A LUCKY COBBLER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1959, 2 October 1888, Page 4

A LUCKY COBBLER.

The story of Patrick Brennan, the Blackbatn cobbler, who has just come Into a fortune of £300,000, discloses a romance In real life. Some months ago a paragraph went the roanda of the papers giving the history of £300,000 awaiting an owner. The fortune consists of the residuary estate of Mrs Blake, who died childless and intestate at South Kensington some years ago. This Mrs Blake, whose maiden name wi s Nellie Sheridan, was born of poot parents at Bellow, Oonnty Longford, Ireland. While residing thtce she attracted the attention of Genera) Robert Dudley Blake, an officer In the English army, and the result was that they eloped and were married. On hearing of the marriage, the family of General Blake disowned him, and he proceeded with his wife to America, settling »t Maafcfield, Ohio, where they eatabUßtied a large millinery business, wbioh proved a great success. Some years ago General fiiake died on a vlait to England, and Lis wife disposed of the business and settled at Sooth Kensington, where sbo resided ontil her death. She became poßseeß3d of all her husband's property, and his estate was worth £300,000 These facts were chronichd m a newepsper paragraph which met the eye of Brenmn, and he at onoe became convinced that he was the heir to tha property. As a child he could well remember the story of tbe elopement of Nellie Sheridan, whose father was the brother of Nancy Sheridan, Brennan s grandmother. Ihe couple after leavlog Ireland were never heard of, but the story wa* often told. Brennan consulted a ■olioltor on the matter, and went to Ireland, where he obtained the necessary proofs. The result was that be estsb lished his claim to the immense fortune, to take possession of which he has now left Blackburn.