My mother's mother was one of two daughters. Their father's name was Biddle. He was a highly successful cork importer of which he had a monopoly. He amassed a fortune of more than £100,000, which today would be equivalent to about a million dollars.
He unexpectedly contracted a disease and died intestate. His estate was thrown into Chancery Court, which had complete control. A suitable allowance was allotted to the widow and young children. From time to time for about 50 years the court reviewed the case. Expense allotments were made to attorneys, possibly judges and no doubt many others. When my youngest aunt was a girl of possibly 15 her mother received he share of her grandfather's estate which amounted to about $800.00. Charles Dickens wrote a novel, "Bleak House" in which he describes the case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce. This was a similar case to that of my great grandfather in the 1830's.