This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lawrence - Chase - Towneley Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/DAw.2ACIB/2293 Message Board Post: I am looking for information pertaining to various claims that were put forth by (alleged) descendants of Mary Towneley and John Lawrence. Family associations were formed in the mid to late 1800's - and as late as 1920, in various locations throughout Canada, US and Australia. These organizations were incorporated and consolidated in order to gather funds, to hire lawyers, and to take their claims back to the courts of England. At stake were estates in Lancashire, (Ashton Hall in Lancaster and Towneley Hall in Burnley). Other claims seem to have evolved to include other property, such as Corby (or Corleigh) Castle. In one large case, several groups of descendants were represented by Col. Joseph Fraser Jacquess. In April of 1890, this case was actually heard in the House of Lords. The eventual result was that the case was thrown out of court. Many People participated int he fund raising for these cases. This no doubt caused great hardship for most. As well, in order to substantiate the story, many bogus genealogies were invented or modified by some unscrupulous types, in order to advance their claim to the alleged estate. These genealogies only caused problems with the fact that subsequent descendants took them as accurate. This has caused an incredible nightmare for genealogist. I am interested in gathering stories from descendants - or any other individuals, of all the various versions of the story. I am eager to hear from anyone who may have been touched by the story. I would like to stress that I am NOT INTERESTED in staking any claim to any estate. I am interested in the story - how it developed and how it touched people's lives. My own family had inherited the dream, so to speak, along with the bogus genealogy. If you have anything to share, I am eager to communicate with you.