What a surprise!!
It was in the year eighteen hundred and one that our Jacobs life was changed for ever. Jacob was twenty six years old and lived with his father and mother in a small village called Brecon Gate. He worked four days a week giving lessons to the Lord of the Manor’s family, and the other day where his dad wanted him on his farm and smallholding.
It was a summers evening when Jacob went into the local ancient woods to collect firewood for the cottage fire. He took Rover the family dog for company. He took his usual gear, a small axe, and a piece of rope, finally a big grubby and smelly old sack. Supper would be when he got back.
He knew where about in the wood where his best chances lay, bearing in mind three other families used this wood too. After a mile he struck lucky. He knew a further two hundred yards the wood ceased and became open heather land. He knew what he wanted. For half an hour he cut and gathered the supplies needed to keep the cottage fire going through the cold nights and his mothers’ cooking.
He needed a rest before hauling the wood back to the cottage. He sat down on a log which was rather unstable. When he got up he rolled the log for his amusement. It exposed a hole with a large hand bag in it. He lifted the bag out and knew it contained coinage in it instantly. He gently opened the bag and saw coins and notes like which he had never seen before. He rolled the log back to its original place, sat on it and contemplated what to do.
If he told the local constabulary, they might accuse him being part or a gang who stole this money. They would lock him up, and spend the money them selves. If the neighbours got to know he had all this money they and villains would be knocking at his parents door demanding money. It would scare his mother to death. How could he use it himself and make himself rich?
He went back home, his head in a quandary. Smuggled the money into their small barn and covered it. Only a person as strong as him could get to the money.
Mother called out “Dinners ready.” It was thick broth and fresh baked bread which he loved. So he took what wood was wanted and placed on the hearth. It would dry out there ready for the next fire. He spent a restless night deciding what action to do. He did not want to involve his mother and father. He was on his own,
On Sunday morning he walked to the nearest town. He took his personal meagre savings with him. Walked into the well known inn which gamblers frequented. He did not gamble, but stayed two hours watching. Then he went home as pleased as punch that he had won twenty pounds. That is what he told his parents. They were delighted but tried to put him off gambling again. He carried on this charade for five weeks until he said he had a hundred pounds in the pot.
During the five weeks of acquiring the hundred pounds he had the other side of his scheme to get together. He, being a teacher had complete access to the Lords office and on Tuesdays and Wednesday gave his lesson from there. He acquired paper sheets from the lords stock and created a Lord of Islay who lived in Castle Shannon in the heart of Scotland. Jacob claimed he was a great cousin of the lord. The Lord had written to him to buy properties in England for him and manage them. This was common practice in those days. As property in Scotland was not esteemed a safe bet.
He then gave the paper to a solicitor showing his representation of the Lord of Ishly. Discreetly advising that the Lord had a temper and if he feels cheated can be very unpleasant indeed. He had friends in high places in the English courts. This was to ensure the Solicitor played straight with Jacob.
With the hundred pounds he had won at gambling?! He started to buy up property to rent out in the Lord of Ishlys’ name. His solicitor acting quickly and being paid promptly soon completed the transactions. Jacob acquired a better house for his mother and father and they continued looking after him.
Jacob invested all the money into property only. He took in a few small farms and a small jetty and dockside with houses on it
Jacob arranged for an old man to visit him and the solicitor to make a will. The old man instructed the solicitor on his death Jacob would inherit everything in England and his other cousin would inherit everything in Scotland. Send the papers to Jacob, and Jacob would approve and send them to him.
Jacob had them signed and returned to the solicitor in due course. Three years later a death certificate confirming Lord Ishly had passed away. It was surprising that no one knew his lordship had passsed away. Jacob in the meantime had been making bad houses good. Sponsored committees to look after local elderly and children. Invested in building two schools with others to teach the poor society.
He received a knighthood for his generosity to society.
In his old age he often thought back on the occasion of finding the money and wondered what he did would stop him going to heaven. He comforted himself “ I wasn’t going there anyway, only good people are invited.”
He wondered who put the money in bag, and as there was no noise raised for its loss he felt confident it was a robbers’ haul.
He would muse about Lord Ishly and thanked him for all his help.
Never once did Jacob mention anything to anyone about finding the bag.
When Jacob did go to heaven, God looking at his papers said, “ It was Jesus’s idea to put the bag there for you to find. He proved right. Well done Jacob”.
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