The Dutch Money
Anne de Brissac, sister of Peter Abraham, married a Mr Child of Bromley, and had
no children.
Mrs Mottette, née de Brissac, was aunt of Peter Abraham and Anne de Brissac. She
lived at Utrecht with her husband, and remained there after his death. She also
was childless.
Of the disposal of the fortune, the following story is too well remembered by
the family. Mrs. Child was summoned to attend Mrs. Mottette, who was dangerously
ill; she accordingly embarked at Harwich and went to the old lady, whom she
nursed through her last illness.
It is said that she heard from a stranger of the dangerous state in which her
aunt was lying, and how her money and valuables were in the power of servants.
The old lady was reported to be immensely rich: “The richest woman in all
Utrecht”, she was said to be.
After her death Mrs. Child found a will, written in French, by which all the
money was settled on her brother, Peter Abraham, and herself. Fearing lest the
old lady should have been cajoled into making any other disposition of her
property, she burnt and destroyed all the Dutch and German papers she could not
read.
Some years afterwards a gentleman met Mrs. Child in a ballroom, and in the
course of conversation informed her, on learning that she was related to the
deceased Mrs. Mottette, that the latter had left £10,000 in her banker’s hands,
which the family had failed to claim. Knowing that she had destroyed all their
means of obtaining the sum. It is said that Mrs Child fainted on the spot.
This money, which was never recovered, is said to have laid the foundation of
the great Hope fortune.
The rest of the money came to the three daughters of Peter Abraham de Brissac.
[Mrs Mottette is entered as Anne Motelle on this family tree.
A sister is also listed: Mrs Dolbon, Governess in the Family of the Marquees of
Salisbury.
Mr Child of Bromley is also promoted to Dr. Child.]