This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/SFk.2ACIB/1300.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: The following letter was sent to all House Heirs Association members as result of investigation for facts. To Whom It May Concern: The undersigned was appointed by a meeting of the House heirs at Kokomo, Indiana, April 13th 1901, to investigate and when anything material was discovered to report to said heirs. We began by communicating with Mr Frank A Huton, of St Paul, Minn., whom we expected to be present at Kokomo, but he says that he was not notified until two days before the meeting took place. He says that he has found NO IMPORTANT RECORDS but believes they can be found. Much time and labor has been spent in writing to parties who were said to have papers and records but none have been found that throw any light on the matter. We have written to every court of record in Maryland and can find no lease recorded. Have a letter from the U.S. Consul in London, England and he thinks it is doubtful if we can find any record there. Have received much advice, many warnings, some demands, and a few scoldings from heirs, etc-- and have this to say in brief: Pay no money to anyone on any pretense whatever in connection with this case. Put no faith in reports about records. Send any real information you may have to me. Remember, that too much importance has been attached to mere hearsay and that while there is a chance for us to get something out of this claim, that it we be a long time before it is settled and that it must be proven, not on mere assertion, but on fact. In every case where we have been referred to records or papers, we have found nothing, except, perhaps family history, and no lease, grant, or other legal record has been brought to our notice. I speak this plainly that you may not build any false hopes, but at the same time we will prosecute our investigations and let you hear by circular only when anything new developes. If you can help by giving facts, write me. Do not expect personal letter, keep cool. If we have a claim against the U S Government and can prove it, we will get it. Don't abuse anybody. We are all doing our best. Very truly, Signed W J Doran Note: I found only one letter from London, England in the House Heirs files that everyone seems to refer to in other letters. It gives the history of the English grant and I'll post it next as it refers to several House English heirs..