CROWN WINDFALLS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2616, 25 September 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

CROWN WINDFALLS

TWO BIG FORTUNES RECEIVED FROM THE SAME FAMILY. The late Frederick Blake, a bachelor, of Broadfield, Crawley, and of Seghill, Northumberland, formerly of the 2nd. Queen’s Royal Regiment, left estate valued at £43,300 14s sd. _ As no relatives were known, and Mr. Blake made no will, letters of administration of his property have been granted to the Solicitor of Affairs of His Majesty’s Treasury, for the use of H»s Majesty. It transpires, moreover, that this is the second fortune left By a member of the same family, which lias proved a “windfall” for the Crown.

In 1876 Mrs. Helen Blake, of Earl’s Terrace, Kensington, died intestate, without known heirs, leaving personal estate valued at nearly £300,000. This lady was the wife of General R. D. Blake. Her maiden name was Sheridan, and she was born in Ireland Ohio. Subsequently the General was of humble parents.

Her beauty attracted the officer, who became her husband when he was serving in Dublin, and the couple eloped to Ohio. Subsequently the General was disowned by his family, but he and his wife established a large millinery business in America, from which they derived a considerable income. While on a visit to England the general, who was a son of Sir Francis Blake, the second baronet, died, and left his fortune to his wife, who afterwards came to reside in Kensington. When Mrs. Blake died the Treasury officials took possession of the personal estate, valued at £140,000, and advertised for heirs. There were many claimants, but not one succeeded in establishing a claim to the satisfaction of the Chancery Court. It transpired, however, that among the intestate’s papers were documents indicating her intentions as to the disposal of some of her property, and certain of these contemplated iegacies were paid by the Treasury. The amount thus disposed of was £IO,OOO, and the sum included an “intended legacy” of £IOOO to the lute Mr Gladstone. Afterwards it was stated that a pauper named Sheridan had succeeded in establishing his claim to the balance of this valuable estate, but the report proved to bo incorrect. The remainder of the estate remains in possession of the Crown, for no claimant has been able to produce proofs of Mrs. Blake’s birth or of the marriage of her parents. General Blake’s brother, Sir Francis, the thifid baronet, died without legitimate issue, but bequeathed a considerable sum to Mr. Frederick Blake, who' was at one tilde an officer in the 2nd Queen’s Royal Regiment. It was the personal estate of this gentlemen, Valued at £43,000 which now passes to the Treasury.