{"id":58187,"date":"2020-04-28T13:43:20","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T17:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=58187"},"modified":"2024-06-28T11:51:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T15:51:38","slug":"kin-of-americas-richest-widow-battle-edward-searles-in-probate-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/kin-of-americas-richest-widow-battle-edward-searles-in-probate-court.html","title":{"rendered":"Kin of America\u2019s Richest Widow Battle Edward Searles in Probate Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues the story of the people affected by the huge fortune left by railroad magnate Mark Hopkins, focusing on a lawsuit contesting Mark\u2019s widow Mary\u2019s will (which left the estate to her second husband Edward Francis Searles), by 21 unhappy relatives. <\/em>Melissa is a genealogist who has a website, americana-archives.com<\/a><\/em>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a><\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Note:<\/em><\/strong> Melissa is writing a series of articles about the people affected by \u2013 and the mad scramble for \u2013 the huge fortune left behind by Mark Hopkins when he died without a will or heir in 1878. This is the 12th<\/sup> article in that series; links to the first 11 installments can be found at the end of this article.<\/em><\/p>\n

When Mary Hopkins Searles, aka \u201cAmerica\u2019s richest widow\u201d (widow of railroad magnate Mark Hopkins), passed on 25 July 1891, her will named her second husband Edward Francis Searles as sole heir. With Mary gone Edward was cash flush and held the keys to all her palaces, which were valued in the millions \u2013 but he would not be living lavishly without legal battles with the widows\u2019 outraged relations, who had formerly received yearly allowances and were promised a slice of the pie after she was gone.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Edward Searles and Mary (Hopkins) Searles. Credit: Down East Dilettante.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Timothy Nolan Hopkins, the adopted son of America\u2019s richest widow, was the major player in contesting the will \u2013 but 21 claimants from the family line joined forces with him. The family members were first and second cousins. They descended from Nathaniel Hebbard and Abigail Sherwood of Connecticut. Abigail was the sister of Mary\u2019s father William Sherwood.<\/p>\n

The suit to break Mary\u2019s will was brought before Judge Rollin E. Harmon in Salem, Massachusetts, in the Essex County Court house on 22 September 1891.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: courtroom scene in Searles probate hearing. Credit: The Illustrated American, Volume 8, Illustrated American Publishing Company, 1891, p. 402.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to newspaper reports, Timothy\u2019s legal team would take on the burden of the fight and the Hebbard\u2019s would not meddle. However, the Hebbard clan chatted up the scandal in interviews with reporters.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 2 September 1891, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

These are their stories, found in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The leader for the 21 contestants was also named Nathaniel Hebbard, a cousin to Mary. He lived on Madison Ave in New York and had a small cottage in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Nathaniel told reporters Mary had assured him all her kin would be provided for: \u201cYou will be remembered handsomely in my will; you are not so numerous that I cannot afford to make you large bequests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathaniel stated that he and his family had numerous letters confirming Mary\u2019s intention to take care of them, and that before Mary married Edward she visited many of her cousins on the East Coast. She gave them money, gifts, and jewels. Mary was always kind and generous but \u201che [Searles] wrecked her mind and drove her insane and used undue influence.\u201d (The family letters are housed in Stanford University Archives\u2019 Timothy Hopkins Papers.)<\/p>\n

The family believed part of Edward\u2019s hold over Mary came from the spirit word of occultism. In addition, Edward circulated false stories about Mary\u2019s family. He called her relations \u201cbeggars\u201d and \u201csquatters\u201d and asserted they were only looking for a handout. Edward had the ear of Mary\u2019s estate manager, and testimonies provided to the court revealed that many financial decisions were made at the seance table.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 2 September 1891, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nathaniel said Mary had promised her cousin William Hebbard, a silversmith, that she would purchase him an apartment house generating income that he could retire on. When William picked out a place that would bring in $1,100 a month income, he traveled to \u201cKellogg Terrace\u201d \u2013 \u00a0Mary\u2019s estate in Great Barrington, Massachusetts \u2013 \u00a0to secure final arrangements. Nathaniel said that Mary called William a beggar and \u201cabused him shockingly.\u201d She ejected him from the premises. He died shortly after of \u201ca broken heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 2 September 1891, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Davenport, New York, two cousins \u2013 Harriet Hebbard and Jane Ann Hebbard Smith \u2013 received $300 a year from Mary. When the press visited the aged lasses at their home, they told reporters they were not talking about the case because they were \u201ctoo smart for them.\u201d They did spill on their intimate connection with Mary, however. It was Mrs. Smith who hosted Mary\u2019s wedding in New York when she married her first husband, Mark Hopkins. They had gone to school in Great Barrington together.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, California), 2 September 1891, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nathaniel told reporters he only made $11 a week and could not take on the annuity Mary had promised to the aged and invalid cousins. He wanted to see justice being done and would \u201cfight with his whole heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two old women didn\u2019t want to get dragged into the probate hearing, but feared they eventually would.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Salt Lake Herald (Salt Lake, Utah), 12 September 1891, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The one thing the Hebbard kin agreed on was how shocked they all were when they discovered that Mary had cut her adopted son Timothy out of her will.<\/p>\n

This is not over yet and more will come.<\/p>\n

Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n