CHANCERY MONEY CLAIMED

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1931, Page 7

CHANCERY MONEY CLAIMED

HUGE SUM INVOLVED. CHRISTCHURCH MAN'S HOPES. If a Christchurch tramway man succeeds in a claim for moneys in Chancery, ten New Zealand members of the family and a branch in California will benefit from a fortune running into over seven figures. Mr. Clarence Pentecost, of 59, Wyon Street, Linwood, is, says the Times, the man contemplating taking action for the recovery of the money. A huge fortune -was amassed by a Mr. John Meek, an Englishman, who died in 1811. On his death the money went into Chancery, said Mr. Pentecost, when interviewed last evening. In 1848 a William Pentecost married a granddaughter of the millionaire, Mr. Meek. He came to New Zealand in 1852 in the Duke of Portland witli a family of two, of whom the father of Mr. Clarence Pentecost, Mr. Isaae Henry Pentecost, was one. The second son was at one time a well-known cabman cf Christchurch. He had a family of three. Mrs. I. 11. Pentecost now resides with her son, Clarence, at Wyon Street. Yesterday Mr. Pentecost received a letter from the American branch of the family, Mrs. George Hayden, of Porterville. California, asking for papers to substantiate the claim with a view to taking proceedings for the recovery of the estate from Chancery. The interest on what in the first instance was a huge estate must by this time have reached an enormous figure.

Mr. Pentecost intends to forwaid copies of his papers, which go as far back as 1770, to America as a first step. After they have been compared with the papers in the possession of the other branch of the family Mr. Pentecost will consider what steps shall be taken next.

“One point we do not know,” he said, “is how Mr. Meek made his money a;id another why it was not claimed at the time of his death. My father went fully into this question about twenty years ago and decided to go to England to press the claim, but other matters arose and he was unable to get away. My father died about thirteen years ago and it was unfortunate that he left no statement showing all his is- . vestigations. As it is we ha v e all the papers and they are very convincing. “There are seven adults in our family, of whom I am the youngest and there are three in my uncle's family. . How many in America would share in the fortune if it were to materialise I do not know, but I do not think they would be very numerous. It was really the letter from America which revived the question. Otherwise it is doubtful if we would have gone into it again.’ Mr. Pentecost himself is a married man with one child. He has resided in Christchurch all bis life.