HAS CLAIM AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT - LOUISE NYE GODFREY`

NYE, GODFREY, BARLOW, WHITE

Posted By: Nancee Seifert (email)
Date: 11/30/2009 at 16:41:59

Decatur County Journal
Leon, Iowa
Thursday, April 13, 1911

In a recent issue the Kansas City Journal published the following concerning
Mrs. LOUISE NYE GODFREY, well known in this county, who died a few days ago
at St. Joseph and was laid to rest in the Lamoni Cemetery.

The perils that threatened the sea trader when the United States was in its
infancy and bold buccaneers plied their trade, are brought again to mind by
the report of the death of Mrs. LOUISE NYE GODFREY of St. Joseph, Missouri,
mother of Mrs. VALENTINE WHITE, of 900 West Kansas Street, Independence.
The death of Mrs. GODFREY leaves her daughter claimant for $10, 680 from the
'government' for the capture of her grandfather by French pirates during
1798. The bill to allow the claim is now before congress.

SOLOMON NYE BARLOW started one day in 1798 for the Bahama islands with a
cargo of cattle. It is the value of that herd that Mrs. WHITE has fallen
heir to through the death of her mother, daughter of Commander BARLOW, for
the ship did not reach the Bahamas. In keeping with the practice in vogue
with doughty French pirates of the time Mr. BARLOW's cargo was captured.
The French government later made reparation to the United States for the
losses sustained by American seamen by those raids. The sums were never
turned over to the individual claimants by the government but Mrs. GODFREY,
up to the time of her death, was to be the beneficiary of a bill pending
before congress. The claim has been pending for over 100 years and now
amounts to over $10,000.

Mrs. GODFREY, who was the direct heir of Captain BARLOW, was also the wife
of a commander of a warship during the blockade running in the Civil War.
At one time she was prominent in Boston society. She was 92 years old when
she died. Death was due indirectly to a fall.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 30, 2009
iggy29@grm.net