The Compton Will Suit

Other Relatives Brought Into The Case

Nieces and Nephews of Matthias Compton Now Lay Claim to the Most Valuable Part of John S. Compton’s Estate

A new feature has been added to the Compton will case at Belford. When John S. Compton died a few months ago he left his property to his sister, Mrs. Huldah Clark and her son, Joseph S. Clark. At Mrs. Clark’s death the property left to her was to go to Mr. Compton’s brothers and sisters. Mr. Clark was made the executor of the will and a caveat was at once filed against its probate by the brothers and sisters of John S. Compton. Now comes another generation of heirs and makes claim to the best part of the estate.

These new heirs number about twenty and are the nieces and nephews of Matthias Compton, who left Belford in 1834 and has not been heard from since. When Matthias Compton left Belford he had eighteen acres of land, for which he had held a deed since 1817. After he went away his brother, Cornelius Compton, Jr., held the land in trust for him and upon the death of Cornelius Compton the property went to his children, instead of reverting to Matthias Compton’s brothers and sisters. The children of Cornelius Compton transferred their interest in the eighteen acres originally held by Matthias Compton to one of their number, John S. Compton, and in that manner the property became involved in the estate over which a legal fight in now pending.

The brothers and sisters of Matthias Compton, to whom these new heirs claim his property should have rightfully gone, were Deborah Seeley, Mary Holmes and Isaac Compton. These people are all dead and their nieces and nephews will make a fight for the eighteen acres. The claimants to the eighteen acres are Capt. William H. Seeley, Hiram Seeley, John Seeley, Mrs. Huldah Hubbs, Mrs. Robert Runyon, Thomas, Stout and William V. Compton, Mrs. Emma Guernsey, Benjamin Holmes, Mrs. Eleanor Walling, Mrs. Lydia West, Seeley Compton, Job S. Compton and Mrs. Joseph Walling of Belford, and Charles Seeley and Mrs. William Matthews of Asbury Park.

The tract of eighteen acres is situated in the village of Belford and is considered the most valuable part of the John S. Compton estate. The property has three houses upon it in good condition and is estimated to be worth about $10,000. It is said that the caveators against the will of John S. Compton consider the claim of Matthias Compton’s heirs so well founded that they will withdraw the caveat and give up their fight, the balance of the estate being too small to make any contest over.

The heirs of Matthias Compton are proceeding upon the assumption that he died without issue. They have engaged Frank P. McDermott as their counsel and will conform to the legal requirements in such matters.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, May 3, 1899

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

• MyCinnamonToast.com ~ Keep up with FREE databases as they come online