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Description
Ward reports that Chase has been given joint power of attorney to Philip Moore's estate. He provides Chase with advice on how to deal with the family and the lands. He also tells Chase that Marriott has taken West's side in the argument due to misinformation.
Date
1-18-1831
Keywords
King William's College, Philip Moore, James Moore, Mrs. Wilks, G. W. Marriott, Lord Goderich, G. M. West, George Montgomery West, Lord Kenyon
Recommended Citation
Ward, Rev. W., "Letter to Philander Chase" (1831). Philander Chase Letters. 877.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/877
Rights Statement
Transcript
Bishops Court
Isle of Man
Jan 18. 1831-
My Dear Bishop,
Since I wrote the enclosed all the heirs of Philip Moore, except the eldest grandson, have been with me, & have signed a joint power of attorney to you which you will probably receive with this, or may [open] it soon after. They have also consented to sign a bond in a penalty of £20,000, binding themselves to grant a twentieth of the proceeds [?] 5 percent to Kenyon College, & the same to King Williams College Isle of Mann, vested in the two Bishops. This I am getting executed in the most secure & legal manner. I will send you a copy of it. The eldest grandson of Philip Moore is a worthless subject. He has taken it into his head that he is the sole rightful heir to all, both Philip & James Moores share, by primogeniture. He waits therefore to [let] the others [try] the [?] of the land, and after they have had the trouble & expence [sic], he will seize the whole. The very first thing you are to ascertain is the legal rights of the different individuals. I believe they are all grandchildren of Philip by a Son & Daughter, and Mrs. Wilks is the sole heiress of James Moore having been his Wife & borne him a Son who died a Minor. I should be sorry indeed if she was not found legally entitled to the property, as her husband Mr. Wilks & Daughter are worthy persons. Be so good as to have their [title] investigated among the first. They will have all James’ Moores share, if they are to have any. Perhaps as you will have their name in the power of attorney, if the lands are sold they may share the proceeds, tho’ not legally entitled to the lands. If the land can be divided, or separated from the oldest grandson’s share who refuses to sign, I should be glad. That would make him glad to come forward. Be so good as to communicate with me, & not with the party. If it should prove essential to have the eldest grandson’s name with the rest you can write such a letter as may induce him to comply. Should he prove to be the rightful heir of the whole, then we must induce him to enter into a similar Bond, & give you similar powers to act. You will of course first ascertain the lawful heirs. The tracts of land are immense and if the half of them could be recovered, and we could get 5 percent for our respective Colleges, we might consider it a remarkable Providence. Let me have a full account of your troubles. You do not know how deeply I have sympathized for you or how diligent I have been at work in in [sic] your cause, but you may know one day. Let me only beg of you to send [Mr]. Marriott a [clear] statement of the monies remitted to you by him. In West’s [?], he makes out £1100 remitted besides Lord Goderich’s £100, and you make but £1000. I think this is it. Let me know whether West is making a party & who they are. Bear with patience a little while, and you will see light shine out of this darkness. If you think you can get through any great & good work that tends to promote the glory of God, without opposition vexation & impediments from wicked spirits, you will find yourself greatly mistaken. Surely the Devil has a great spite against Church & College buildings all over the world. We can get nothing of the kind done in this country without getting into hot water. So do not you expect to fare better in the wilderness of Ohio. Before you begin to build, first sit down and count the cost, or if you are in [the] [?] [work], think it no stranger thing if you should meet the great [Querry]. It was a saying of good old revered Jones of Nagland, which I often heard him repeat, that he never [want] to settle in a parish, where he did not meet the Devil, in some human shape. But stranger is He that is with us. The faithful Servants of the God of Heaven will always get the better of the Servants of the God of this world, in the long run. I hope you are surrounded & supported in this trying crisis by a phalanx of faithful friends. May you be enabled to look up into Heaven, & by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed, and after the example of the first Martyr bless & pray for your persecutions. All my family desire to send you kind remembrance, & I remain ever yours
Very faithfully
W. Sodor & Mann
Turn over
I must now let you into a secret which I have learned since I began this letter. West seems to have misled or to have made a strong impression on good Marriott. It seems I was mistaken in the many misappropriation [sic] being attributed to you. It is you that West accuses of having laid misappropriation or misapplication to him, which Mr. Marriott thinks is unmerited & unjust. Do not seem to know that you had this information from me. It may be of use to you in answering Mr. Marriott from whom you may expect shortly to hear. You have no idea of the volumes that have passed between him & me on this subject. At present he cannot see W’s conduct & yours in the light that [L.K.] & I do. We, [L.K.] & I are perfectly on one opinion & one heart on the subject. We view the claim to episcopal [consecration] with equal abhorrence; but Mr. M seems to overlook that & place his hand on the charge of pecuniary infidelity charged on W. & on this alone. It is fit you should be [apprised] of this. If this be so, & you find that the charge is unmerited, or vice versa; facts will shew; and whatever the facts may be, they should be stated & maintained. Let me exhort you not to make yourself unhappy about this matter. He assured you you should not lose a friend but make & confirm many by this affair. Marriott adheres wonderfully to West, but that cannot last. All view it as I do, as as far as I have yet been able to learn. Our great object is to separate you & West & to put a stop to the contest. I shall be we all shall be anxious to hear from you in this house. [?] ever after W. S&M.