The Poor Aristocrats - Introduction

Sir Chester Willingham, had amassed a huge fortune while in service to the Crown while performing his duties in India. And In addition to the worth of Dorwell House, the main estate and residence of a lineage of "bluebloods" reaching back to the eleventh century. There was a total accumulation of wealth as few could ever realize in this life, perhaps only the chosen.

It remains a mystery why the Willingham's left Devonshire, although it was rumored that the family had been taxed out of England, and sought refuge in America.

With the exception of the grand Dame herself, the matriarch of the family, Elsbeth, who adamantly refused to be carried to America, most likely a thing of national pride. Rather she chose to continue her life in Australia, she often spoke of what it would be like to live there, out of curiosity and from hearing tales told by a few of the more adventurous members of the clan that had previously visited there.

Fast forward to the present time, the family had established themselves on a large ranch located in the hill country of central Texas.

Over time the family proper had dwindled down to only a handful of people all of which were aware that there was an enormous treasure in gold, jewels,fine art and antiquities that had been brought to America, but with the sudden and unexpected passing of the senior member, Sir Luther, the eldest and by family decree in charge of the family treasury, the actual whereabouts was lost. No one knew where the bulk of the treasure was deposited and only a myriad of clues were available to begin the search for the family fortune.