“ITEM. To my Brother, Charles Washington_Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills

headed Cane left me by Dr. Franklin, in his will. I add nothing to it,

because of the ample provision I have made for his issue. To the

acquaintances and friends of my juvenile years, Lawrence Washington and

Robert Washington, of Chotanck, I give my other two Gold headed Canes,

having my arms engraved on them; and to each (as they will be useful

where they live) I leave one of the Spyglasses, which constituted part

of my equipage, during the late war. To my Compatriot in arms and old

and intimate Friend, Dr. Craik, I give my Bureau (or, as the Cabinet

Makers call it, Tambour Secretary) and the circular Chair, an appendage

of my Study. To Dr. David Stuart I give my Large Shaving and Dressing

Table, and my Telescope. To the Reverend, now Bryan Lord Fairfax, I give

a Bible, in three large folio volumes, with notes,--presented to me by

the Rt. Rev. Thomas Wilson, Bishop of Sodor and Man. To General De la

Fayette I give a Pair of finely wrought Steel Pistols, taken from the

enemy in the revolutionary war. To my Sisters-in-Law, Hannah Washington

and Mildred Washington--to my friends Eleanor Stuart, Hannah Washington,

of Fairfield, and Elizabeth Washington of Hayfield, I give, each, a

Mourning Ring, of the value of one hundred Dollars. These bequests are

not made for the intrinsic value of them, but as mementos of my esteem

and regard. To Tobias Lear I give the use of the farm which he now

holds, in virtue of a lease from me to him and his deceased wife (for

and during their natural lives) free from rent during his life; at the

expiration of which, it is to be disposed of as is herein after

directed. To Sally B. Haynie (a distant relation of mine) I give and

bequeath three hundred Dollars. To Sarah Green, daughter of the deceased

Thomas Bishop, and to Ann Walker, daughter of John Alton, also deceased,

I give each one hundred Dollars, in consideration of the attachment of

their fathers to me; each of whom having lived nearly forty years in my

family. To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Washington, George

Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington, and Samuel

Washington, I give one of the swords or Cutteaux of which I may die

possessed; and they are to choose in the order they are named.--These

swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the

purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self-defence, or in defence

of their country and its rights; and in the latter case, to keep them

unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands to the

Relinquishment thereof.

“And Now, having gone through these specific Devises, with explanations

for the more correct understanding of the meaning and design of them, I

proceed to the distribution of the more important parts of my Estate, in

manner following:

“FIRST. To my Nephew, Bushrod Washington, and his heirs (partly in

consideration of an intimation to his deceased Father, while we were

Bachelors, and he had kindly undertaken to superintend my estate during

my military services in the former war between Great Britain and France)

that if I should fall therein, Mount Vernon (then less extensive in

domain than at present) should become his property. I give and bequeath

all that part thereof, which is comprehended within the following

limits, Viz:--

“FIFTH.--All the rest and residue of my estate, real and personal, not

disposed of in manner aforesaid, in whatsoever consisting,--wheresoever

lying--and whensoever found--a Schedule of which as far as is

recollected, with a reasonable estimate of its value, is hereunto

annexed--I desire may be sold by my Executors at such times--in such

manner, and on such credits (if an equal, valid, and satisfactory

distribution of the specific property cannot be made without) as in

their judgment shall be most conducive to the interest of the parties

concerned, and the monies arising therefrom to be divided into

twenty-three equal parts, and applied as follows:” (Here follows the

list of beneficiaries and description of property); “and by way of

advice I recommend it to my Executors not to be precipitate in disposing

of the landed property (herein directed to be sold) if from temporary

causes the sale thereof would be dull; experience having fully evinced

that the price of land (especially above the falls of the rivers and on

the western waters) have been progressively rising and cannot be long

checked in its encreasing value.

“The Family Vault at Mount Vernon, requiring repairs, and being

improperly situated besides, I desire that a new one of brick, and upon

a larger scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the

Vineyard Inclosure, on the ground which is marked out--In which my

Remains, with those of my deceased Relations (now in the old Vault) and

such others of my Family as may chuse to be entombed there, may be

deposited. And it is my express desire, that my Corpse may be interred

in a private manner, without parade or funeral Oration.

“LASTLY, I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved Wife Martha

Washington, my Nephews William Augustine Washington, Bushrod Washington,

George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Lawrence Lewis, and my

Ward George Washington Parke Custis (when he shall have arrived at the

age of Twenty Years) Executrix and Executors of this WILL and

TESTAMENT--In the construction of which, it will readily be perceived

that no professional character has been consulted, or has had any agency

in the draught, and that although it has occupied many of my leisure

hours to digest, and to throw it into its present form, it may,

notwithstanding, appear crude and incorrect--but having endeavored to be

plain and explicit in all the devises, even at the expence of prolixity,

perhaps of tautology, I hope and trust that no disputes will arise

concerning them; but if, contrary to expectation, the case should be

otherwise from the want of legal expression, or the usual technical

terms, or because too much or too little has been said on any of the

devises to be consonant with law, my Will and Direction expressly is,

that all disputes (if unhappily any should arise) shall be decided by

three impartial and intelligent men, known for their probity and good

understanding--two to be chosen by the disputants, each having the

choice of one, and the third by those two--which three men thus chosen

shall, unfettered by law or legal constructions, declare their sense of

the Testator’s intentions; and such decision is, to all intents and

purposes, to be as binding on the parties as if it had been given in the

Supreme Court of the United States.

“IN WITNESS of all, and of each of the things herein contained, I have

set my Hand and Seal, this Ninth Day of July, in the Year One Thousand,

Seven Hundred and Ninety ---- [1] and of the Independence of the United

States the Twenty-Fourth.

“GEORGE WASHINGTON.”

[1] It appears that the testator omitted the word “nine.”

WILL OF MARY WASHINGTON

Mary Washington, mother of George Washington, died August 25, 1789. Her

will, registered in the clerk’s office at Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a

peculiarly interesting document, and is here given in full.

“In the name of God, Amen, I, Mary Washington, of Fredericksburg, in the

County of Spotsylvania, being in good health, but calling to mind the

uncertainty of this life, and willing to dispose of what remains of my

worldly estate, do make and publish this, my last will, recommending my

soul into the hands of my Creator, hoping for a remission of all my sins

through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of

mankind; I dispose of my worldly estate as follows:--

“Imprimis--I give to my son, General George Washington, all my land in

Accokeek Run, in the County of Stafford, and also my negro boy George,

to him and his heirs forever. Also my best bed, bedstead, and Virginia

cloth curtains (the same that stands in my best bedroom) my quilted blue

and white quilt and my best dressing glass.

“Item--I give and devise to my son, Charles Washington, my negro man

Tom, to him and his assigns forever.

“Item--I give and devise to my daughter, Bettie Lewis, my phaeton and my

bay horse.

“Item--I give and devise to my daughter-in-law, Hannah Washington, my

purple cloth cloak lined with shag.

“Item--I give and devise to my grandson, Corbin Washington, my negro

wench old Bet, my riding chair, and two black horses, to him and his

assigns forever.

“Item--I give and devise to my grandson, Fielding Lewis, my negro man,

Frederick, to him and his assigns forever, also eight silver

tablespoons, half of my crockery ware and the blue and white tea china,

with book case, oval table, one bedstead, one pair sheets, one pair

blankets and white cotton counterpain, two table cloths, six red leather

chairs, half my peuter and one-half of my kitchen furniture.

“Item--I give and devise to my grandson, Lawrence Lewis, my negro wench

Lydia, to him and his assigns forever.

“Item--I give and devise to my granddaughter, Bettie Carter, my negro

woman, little Bet, and her future increase, to her and her assigns

forever. Also my largest looking glass, my walnut writing desk and

drawers, a square dining table, one bed, bedstead, bolster, one pillow,

one blanket and pair sheets, white Virginia cloth counterpains and

purple curtains, my red and white tea china, teaspoons, and the other

half of my peuter and crockery ware, and the remainder of my iron

kitchen furniture.

“Item--I give and devise to my grandson, George Washington, my next best

glass, one bed, bedstead, bolster, one pillow, one pair sheets, one

blanket and counterpain.

“Item--I devise all my wearing apparel to be equally divided between my

granddaughters, Bettie Carter, Fannie Ball, and Milly Washington, but

should my daughter, Bettie Lewis, fancy any one, two or three articles,

she is to have them before a division thereof.

“Lastly, I nominate and appoint my said son, General George Washington

executor of this, my Will, and as I owe few or no debts, I direct my

executor to give no security or appraise my estate, but desire the same

may be allotted to my devisees, with as little trouble and delay as may

be desiring their acceptance thereof as all the token I now have to give

them of my love for them.

“In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 20th day

of May, 1788.

“MARY WASHINGTON.”

WILL OF DANIEL WEBSTER

Daniel Webster died October 24, 1852. His will is a lengthy document,

and its chief features are here set out:

“In the name of Almighty God! I, Daniel Webster of Marshfield in the

County of Plymouth and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esquire, now being

confined at my house with a serious illness which, considering my time

of life, is undoubtedly critical, but being nevertheless in the full

possession of all my mental faculties, do make and publish this my last

will and testament.

“I commit my soul into the hands of my heavenly Father, trusting in his

infinite goodness and mercy.

“I direct that my mortal remains be buried in the family vault at

Marshfield, where monuments are already erected to my deceased children

and their mother. Two places are marked for other monuments, of exactly

the same size and form. One of these, in proper time, is to be for me,

and perhaps I may leave an epitaph. The other is for Mrs. Webster. Her

ancestors and all her deceased kindred lie in a far distant city. My

hope is, that after many years, she may come to my side, and join me and

others whom God hath given me. I wish to be buried without the least

show or ostentation, but in a manner respectful to my neighbors, whose

kindness has contributed so much to the happiness of me and mine, and

for whose prosperity I offer sincere prayers to God.

“Concerning my worldly estate, my will must be anomalous and out of the

common form, on account of the state of my affairs. I have two large

real estates. By marriage settlement, Mrs. Webster is entitled to a life

estate in each, and after her death they belong to my heirs. On the

Franklin estate, so far as I know, there is no encumbrance except Mrs.

Webster’s life-estate. On Marshfield, Mr. Samuel Frothingham has an

unpaid balance of a mortgage, now amounting to twenty five hundred

dollars. My great and leading wish is, to preserve Marshfield, if I can,

in the blood and name of my own family. To this end, it must go in the

first place to my son, Fletcher Webster, who is hereafter to be the

immediate prop of my house, and the general representative of my name

and character.”

Then follow certain suggestions with reference to trustees, by which

they are given the right to dispose of the estate as exigencies may

require. Mrs. Webster, by marriage settlement, was entitled to a

life-estate in certain valuable real estate owned by the testator, and

he indicated his desire that this life-estate should be purchased as

being the best means to provide for her welfare. He then appointed his

wife, Caroline LeRoy Webster, his son, Fletcher Webster, and R. M.

Blatchford of New York, to be his executors. He then named James W.

Paige, Franklin Haven of Boston, and Edward Curtis of New York, Trustees

of all the real estate in the town of Marshfield, in the State of

Massachusetts, and the town of Franklin in the State of New Hampshire,

being his two principal estates, upon certain trusts: First, to pay to

his wife, Caroline LeRoy Webster, the estimated value of her life

interest: Secondly, to pay to said wife from the rents, profits and

income of said two estates, the sum of five hundred dollars per annum

during her natural life, and so much of the revenue not needed for the

purposes aforesaid for the use of his son, Fletcher Webster, during his

natural life; and after the decease of said son, to convey the same in

fee to such of his male descendants as a majority of said Trustees might

elect. He expressed the desire that his grandson, Ashburton Webster,

take one, and his grandson, Daniel Webster, Jr., take the other of said

estates.

He directed that his wife, Caroline LeRoy Webster, should have the

right, at all times during her life, to reside in the mansion he had at

Marshfield.

Unto his Executors, he gave all the books, plate, pictures, statuary,

furniture and other personal property in the mansion at Marshfield,

except such articles as were given to others in a latter portion of his

will, in trust, to preserve the same in the mansion house for the use of

his son, Fletcher Webster, during his natural life, and after his death,

to make over and deliver the same to the person who would then become

owner of the estate of Marshfield; the testator expressing his intention

that they remain attached to the house while it was occupied by any of

his name and blood.

Unto his son, Fletcher Webster, he gave all his law books, wherever

situated, for his own use. To his son-in-law, Samuel A. Appleton, he

gave his California watch and chain. The picture of himself by Healy he

gave to his granddaughter, Caroline LeRoy Appleton. His gold snuff-box

with the head of General Washington, together with all his

fishing-tackle and his Selden and Wilmot guns, he gave to his grandson,

Samuel Appleton; to his grandson, Daniel Webster Appleton, his

Washington medals; to his granddaughter, Julia Webster Appleton, he gave

a clock presented to her grandmother by the Honorable George Blake.

An item of general interest in the will is as follows:

“I appoint Edward Everett, George Ticknor, Cornelius Conway Felton, and

George Ticknor Curtis, to be my literary executors; and I direct my son,

Fletcher Webster to seal up all my letters, manuscripts and papers, and

at a proper time to select those relating to my personal history and my

professional and public life, which in his judgment should be placed at

their disposal, and to transfer the same to them, to be used by them in

such manner as they may think fit. They may receive valuable aid from my

friend George J. Abbot Esq. now of the State Department.”

The following provisions conclude the document:

“Item. My servant William Johnson is a freeman. I bought his freedom not

long ago for six hundred dollars. No demand is to be made upon him for

any portion of this sum, but so long as is agreeable, I hope he will

remain with the family.”

“Item. Monicha McCarty, Sarah Smith and Ann Bean, colored persons now

also, and for a long time in my service, are all free. They are very

well deserving, and whoever comes after me must be kind to them.”

“Item. I request that my executors and trustees be not required to give

bonds for the performance of their respective duties under this will.”

WILL OF JOHN G. WHITTIER

The poet Whittier died September 7, 1892.

Omitting pecuniary legacies to various friends and relatives, amounting

to $40,000, his Will is in the following words:

“Know all men by these Presents, That I, John G. Whittier of Amesbury in

the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being of sound

mind and memory, but in enfeebled bodily health, do make this my last

will and testament, hereby revoking any and all former wills by me

before made.

“After the payment of all my just debts and funeral charges I give,

bequeath and devise as follows:

“1st. I give, bequeath and devise to my niece Lizzie W. Pickard my

homestead place in Amesbury, with all the books, pictures and furniture

therein. I also give, bequeath and devise to my said niece my dwelling

house known as the ‘Gove Place’ on the corner of Friend and Pleasant

Streets in said Amesbury. I also give and bequeath to my said niece

Fifteen Thousand dollars....”

“9th. I give and bequeath to the Haverhill City Hospital One thousand

dollars....”

“14th. I give and bequeath to Caroline Johnson, Mary Johnson and Abby J.

Woodman, my furniture, books and pictures at Oak Knoll, Danvers, not

otherwise disposed of, to be equally divided among them. I also give and

bequeath to each of them Five Hundred dollars....”

“18th. I give and bequeath to Lucy Larcom, Five hundred dollars; also

the copyright of ‘Child Life,’ ‘Child Life in Prose’ and ‘Songs of Three

Centuries.’....”

“22nd. I give and bequeath to my niece Lizzie W. Pickard before named,

the Portrait of myself by Hoyt, at Oak Knoll, Danvers.

“23rd. I give and bequeath to Sarah O. Jewett of So. Berwick, Lanman’s

picture of the Sea and its marshes at the mouth of the Merrimac River,

also at Oak Knoll, Danvers.

“24th. I give and bequeath to Annie Fields the Picture of Venice, also

at Oak Knoll, Danvers.

“25th. I give and bequeath to the American Peace Society, Five hundred

dollars.

“26th. I give and bequeath to the Amesbury Charitable Society, Five

hundred dollars.

“27th. I give and bequeath to the Friends in Amesbury, Two hundred

dollars, for the care of their burial ground....”

“29th. The copyrights of my writings, with the exception of those given

as aforesaid to Lucy Larcom, I place in the hands of my Executors, whom

I hereby constitute and appoint as Trustees of the same; the income of

which (as stipulated in an agreement with my publishers, Houghton,

Mifflin & Co., dated August 12, 1883, to continue until ten years from

that date) I hereby direct them to pay annually to Lizzie W. Pickard,

Alice G. Berry, Charles F. Whittier, Louis H. Caldwell, Phebe J. Woodman

and Addie P. Cammett, in the ratio and proportion of the cash legacies

made to the above named persons in this Instrument: Nevertheless if in

the judgment of my said Executors and Trustees it is deemed advisable,

they are at liberty to dispose of said copyrights and divide the

proceeds among the above named persons, in the proportion above named.

“30th. I give, bequeath and devise one half of the rest and residue of

my estate, be it real, personal, or mixed, to Lizzie W. Pickard, Alice

G. Berry, Charles F. Whittier, Louis H. Caldwell, Phebe J. Woodman,

Addie P. Cammett and Adelaide G. Caldwell in the same ratio and

proportion as mentioned in item 29th.

“31st. I give, bequeath and devise the remaining one half of the rest

and residue of my estate, be it real, personal or mixed, in equal

shares, to the Amesbury and Salisbury Home for Aged Women, The Anna

Jaques Hospital in the City of Newburyport and the Normal and

Agricultural Institute for Colored and Indian Pupils at Hampton, Va.

“32nd. I entrust my manuscripts, letters and papers to Samuel T. Pickard

of Portland, Me., and request all who have letters of mine to refrain

from publishing them, unless with his consent. It is my wish that my

funeral may be conducted in the plain and quiet way of the Society of

Friends with which I am connected, not only by birthright, but also by a

settled conviction of the truth of its principles, and the importance of

its testimonies.

“33rd. I hereby constitute and appoint George F. Bagley and George W.

Cate both of Amesbury as Executors and Trustees of this my last Will

and testament, and hereby request that they may be exempt from giving

any surety or sureties on their bond as Executors or Trustees.

“In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, and in the presence of the

three witnesses named below, declare this to be my last will and

testament this eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord one

thousand eight hundred and ninety.

“JOHN G. WHITTIER.”

WILL OF MARY CHILTON WINSLOW

In the files of Suffolk County Registry of Probate at Boston, there are

still preserved a number of wills of members of the Plymouth Colony, of

Mayflower fame, which are both quaint and interesting. Among these is

the original will of Mary Chilton Winslow, together with a bond of the

administrators, signed by her son, John Winslow, and son-in-law, Richard

Middlecott.

This will is written on one side of a sheet of paper, a little over

eighteen by fourteen inches in size, and is in excellent condition,

except in some of the creases made by folding. The instrument is dated

July 31, 1676. It recites:

“I, Mary Winslow of Boston in New England Widdow being weake of Body but

of Sound and perfect memory praysed be almighty God for the same Knowing

the uncertainety of this present life and being desirous to settle that

outward Estate the Lord hath Lent me. I doe make this my last Will and

Testam^{t} in manner and forme following:”

The bequests are very numerous: she gives to her son, John Winslow, her

“great Square table.” Unto her daughter, Sarah Middlecott, her “Best

gowne and Pettecoat” and her “Silver beare bowle,” and to each of her

children, “a Silver Cup with a handle.” Unto her daughter, Susanna

Latham, one “long Table and one great Cupboard”; and unto her

grandchild, Susanna Latham, one “Pette Coat with the silke Lace.” To

Mary Winslow, daughter of her “sone,” Joseph Winslow, the “sume of

twenty pounds in money to be paid unto said Mary when she attains the

age of eighteen years or day of Marriage which of them should first

happen.” Unto “Thomas Thacher paster of the third Church in Boston,” the

sum of five pounds was given. The inventory attached to this will is an

exceedingly interesting document, dealing as it does with the articles

of dress and household use of those days.

WILL OF BRIGHAM YOUNG

It does not fall to the lot of many men to make such a testamentary

disposition as that of Brigham Young. He died on August 29, 1877.

He provided for the payment of his debts and the current expenses of his

numerous families: the bulk of his fortune of the estimated value of Two

Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars, was left in trust for his

families; the trustees being George Q. Cannon, Brigham Young, Jr., and

Albert Carrington.

His families were divided into classes, each class being represented by

a wife and children, or a wife without children, or the children of a

deceased wife. There were nineteen classes in all. At the time of his

death, his living wives numbered eighteen, and there were three

deceased: he was also “sealed” to a number of other women, in accordance

with the ritual of the Mormon Church. The authorities vary as to the

number of these spiritual wives. However, no mention is made of them in

the will. He had forty-eight children, including an adopted child.

The estate was divided into nineteen parts, as stated; upon the death of

the mother, the children taking the mother’s share, which was to be held

in trust until they became of age, respectively.

Though Mr. Young is said to have given largely to charities during his

life, no such bequests are included in his will.

INDEX

Accuracy, in writing of wills necessary, 220.

Acorns, to be planted on grave of Sir Charles Hastings, 155.

Actors, benefited by the will of Garrick, 270;

by the will of Booth, 339;

by the will of Forrest, 364-369;

by the will of Jefferson, 396.

Actors’ Fund, the, 339, 397.

Actors’ Home, the, 396.

Actress, beneficiary must become an, 162.

Adam, said to have left a will, xii, 10.

Adams, John Quincy, will of, 324-330.

Agassiz, Louis, preamble to will of, 198;

his pride in vocation of teacher, 198;

_Boston Globe_ editorial on, 198-200.

Alcott, Louisa M., will of a child in “Little Women,” 58.

Alden, Captain John, will of, 330, 331.

Alienation of land, forbidden in will of Plato, 14.

Aligre, Marquis d’, will of, 249-251.

Americans, famous wills of, 324-454.

Ancient Wills, 10-48;

Barnabé Brisson an authority on, xii.

André, John, Major, his last request to General Washington, 221, 222.

“Anglicus,” the pardoned poet, will of, 246, 247.

Anglo-Saxon Wills, made in triplicate, xii.

Angoulême, Duchesse d’, her remorse for the “Lost Dauphin,” 242.

Animals, _see_ Dumb Animals.

Annuity, a prolonged, 185.

Anthems, bequest for singing of favorite, 178.

“Anticipating the past,” 90.

Antonelli, Cardinal Giacomo, will of, 252-258.

Aram, Eugene, skull of, in York Castle, 135.

Arbilot, Mr., the humorous will of an eccentric Scotchman, 185.

Arbitration, disputes over estate of Susan M. Corning to be settled by, 177.

Archer, Henry, bequest for benefit of poor in gratitude for

honors conferred, 117.

Aristotle, will of, 14-16.

“Arlotto, the Parson,” will of, 35.

Armada, The Spanish, bequest for sermon on deliverance from, 174.

Armenjon, Laurentine, 259.

Arms, bare, considered immodest by Yorkshire rector, 186.

Arnold, Benedict, will of, 331-333.

Arnold, Matthew, will of, 258.

Artists, poor, provided for in the will of Turner, 314.

Ashes, cast into the sea, 127, 144.

Ashes, cast to the four winds from Eads Bridge, St. Louis, 157.

Asselineau, Charles, his unique collection of paper-knives, 163.

Astronomical observatory, of Lick, 402, 403.

Audubon, John James, will of, 333.

Auger, Jean Baptiste Robert, will of, 258, 259.

Augustus Cæsar, will of, 17-20.

Aunt Lunky, will of a negro servant, 81.

Autopsy, Duchess of Northumberland prohibits, 132.

Bacon, Lord, will of, 259.

Bakhuysen, Ludolf, gold coins and wine distributed at his funeral, 133.

Baliol, John, of Barnard Castle, heart disposed of by widow, 21.

Balliston, John, devise to provide bread, beer, beef, and broth for poor, 120.

Balls, Elizabeth, her charitable will, 95;

provision for her horse and greyhound, 95.

Balzac, Honoré de, quotation from, 7;

describes a weird custom in “The Country Doctor,” 241.

Banks, bequest for founding patriotic, 228.

Banquet-table, a strange guest at, 138.

Barber, Robert, bequest for best recital of catechism, 163.

Bardsey Island, to be reinterred in, 132.

Barefooted, must walk, on anniversary of husband’s death, 89.

Baring-Gould, S., comments on the will of a pig, 20.

Barn, coffin to hang from beam in, for thirty years, 143.

Barnum, Phineas Taylor, will of, 334, 335.

Barnum Institute, the, 335.

Barrot, Rosine, enigmatical will of, 191.

Bastian, Elizabeth, provides for a costly mausoleum at expense

of relatives, 135.

Battle, bequest as memorial of gratitude for preservation in, 116.

Baume, Pierre Henri, his frugal life, 197;

his fortune for charity, 197, 198.

Beauchamp, Guy de, Earl of Warwick, will of, 24.

Beauchamp, William de, will of, 22.

Beauchamp, William de, Earl of Warwick, will of, 23.

Beaumont sur Vingeanne, Seigneur de, François de la Palu

Varembon, his desire for bright colors, 152;

his heirs to wear white at his funeral, 152.

Bed, M. Helloin buried in his, as Death found him, 143;

Langton Freeman buried in his, in summer-house, 144.

Beecher, Henry Ward, will of, 335, 336.

Beer, provided for in will of eccentric German, 106.

Bell, bequest for tolling of the, 116.

Bell, Elijah, will of, 226;

his undertaker paid in advance, 226.

Benoît, Sieur, desired to be buried in a leather trunk, 138.

Bentham, Jeremy, strange will of, 138;

his body preserved and placed at banquet-table, 138;

now in possession of University College, 138;

description of Dr. Smith regarding, 139.

Benton, Thomas H., will of, 336, 337.

Beresford Hall, 316, 317.

Bergavenny, Joan, Lady, desired to be buried without pomp or vainglory, 151.

Berkeley, Mr., leaves pension for four dogs, 99;

his gratitude to, 99.

Berne, will of citizen of, to fix price of corn and wine, 118.

Berne, Richard, will of, 32;

bequest to prisoners, 32;

for repair of highways, 32.

Bevill, Sir Robert, vindictive will of, 86.

Bibles, bequest of, 170;

possession of decided by throwing dice, 170.

Bigsby, James, will of, in rhyme, 70.

Birkbeck, Anna Margaret, directs that family letters be placed in coffin, 140.

Bizony, Emile von, bequest to his twelve horses, 94.

Blaine, James G., will of, 338.

Bletzer, Harris, his view of the world, 161.

Blyth, Thomas, directs that no mourning be worn for him, 173;

his appreciation of Dolly Varden garters, 173.

Boby, Sieur, eccentric will of, 128;

his heart to be removed, 129;

his epitaph, 129.

Body, Jeremy Taylor’s, preserved and seated at banquet-table

on great occasions, 138;

to be dismembered and given to relatives, 167;

bequeathed for useful purposes, 191;

to be sold for liquidation of debts, 315.

Books, an early bequest of, 31;

in the coffin of John Underwood, 151.

Booth, Edwin T., will of, 338-340.

Boston, Mass., Charles Dickens’s views on charitable institutions of, 243;

benefited by the will of Benjamin Franklin, 370, 371.

_Boston Globe_, the, editorial on Louis Agassiz, 198-200.

Boudinot, Elias, a lengthy sermon in will of, 192.

Bouton, Charles, simplicity marked obsequies of, 142.

Bouton, Philippe, fourteen girls dressed in green to attend

his obsequies, 142.

Brain, of Dr. Ellerby to be preserved, 129;

blank form for bequest of, 176.

Braunmiller, Joel, directs that his body be cremated and his

ashes cast to the four winds, 157;

to be done from Eads Bridge, St. Louis, 157.

Bread, bequest for, for poor, 116, 118, 121;

in honor of John Bunyan, 117.

Bread, beer, beef, and broth, devise to provide, for poor, 120.

Bretagne, François, Duc de, bequest for masses and instructions

for bell ringing, 133.

Bretagne, Marguérite de, bequest for masses, 134.

Brewer, David J., will of, 340-342.

Brisson, Barnabé, authority on ancient wills, xii;

works of, 134.

Brotherly love, bequest for promotion of, 114.

Brown, James, his views on political independence, 174.

Brunswick, Duke of, will of, 260, 261.

Budd, Henry, antipathy to mustaches shown in will of, 87.

Budgell, Eustace, account of, 58.

Bull Baiting, provided for in will of George Staverton, 110;

since discontinued, 111.

Bulwer-Lytton, Edward, quotation from, 215;

will of, 261.

Bunyan, John, bequest for bread in honor of, 117.

Burial, provision for, in will of Virgil, 16;

instructions of Augustus, 18;

of William de Beauchamp, 23;

of Dukes of Lancaster, 25;

of Lady Joan De Cobham, 25;

instructions for in various wills, 122-158;

customs in Austria, 138.

Buried alive, fear of being, 25, 130.

Burke, Edmund, will of, xiii, 261-266.

Burney, Frances, the will in “Memoirs of an Heiress,” 56.

Burns, Peter, philanthropic bequest in will of, 103.

Burr, Aaron, will of, 342;

duel with Alexander Hamilton, 379, 380;

later life, 380, 381.

Butcher, unexpected good fortune of a, 164.

Butler, Benjamin F., will of, 343, 344.

Butler, George, devise of land and buildings for a Travellers’ Rest, 107.

_Butler and Baker’s Case_, 206.

Café, testator desired his body carried to favorite, on day

of his funeral, 152, 153.

Camelford, Lord, desired to be buried in a beautiful country, 152.

Capacity, comment on testamentary, 203-205.

Carey, Tereisse, unique and illiterate will of, 188.

Caroline, Queen, will of, 266, 267.

Carp, bequests to, 91.

Carriages, to be burned on the day of owner’s funeral, 131.

Carrington, Richard Christopher, ordered a deep grave, 153;

no service to be read over, 153;

not to be shaved, 153.

Cartault, Madame Jeanne, bequest for marriage portion to most

deserving poor working girls, 113;

requirements for naming the first-born, 113;

the first beneficiary of, 114.

Cartouche, bequest of his skull to Genovevan Monastery at Paris, 135.

Cassiday, Joseph Johnson, will of, in rhyme, 71.

“Castle Rest,” summer home of Pullman’s mother, 413.

Cat, bequests to, 100, 101, 102;

instructions for feeding, 101.

Cat and Dog Money, provided in certain parts of England, 100.

Catechism, bequest for best recital of, 163.

Cats’ home, bequest for, by Jonathan Jackson, 101.

Cayuga Lake, heir must not go to or upon, 80.

Cecilia, in “Memoirs of an Heiress,” 56;

restrictions on marriage of, 56.

Cervantes, Saavedra, will of “Don Quixote,” 60.

Character, wills a reflection of, xi.

Charitable and kindred institutions, gifts to, 7.

Charity, 102-122.

Charles I., last moments of, 244;

his cloak and earring, 244.

Chase, Salmon P., will of, 344, 345.

Chesterfield, Lord, bequest for pet cat, 102;

will of, 267;

letter to Dr. Johnson, 274, 275.

Cheyenne Mountain, the burial place of Helen Hunt Jackson, 234.

Child, will of a, in “Little Women,” 58.

Children, provision for, 8;

one hundred at _monethe’s minde_, 33;

dislike of, 88;

one half of estate to heirs who had the most, 183.

Chinaman, unique will of a, 78.

Chorley, H. F., bequests to Charles Dickens and his daughter Mary, 215.

Christian Science Church, benefited by will of Mrs. Eddy, 356-361.

Christiano, Dr., bequest for benefit of three dogs, 98.

Christmas dinner, bequest for, for almshouse women, 116.

Christ’s Hospital, bequest for raisins for boys of, 118.

Chudleigh, Elizabeth, Duchess of Kingston, remarkable will of, 134.

Church, bequest to poor who attend, on stated days, 111;

bequest to encourage attendance at, 115;

body of donor mixed in mortar of, 144.

Cicero, mentions wills, xii.

Clay, Henry, will of, 345-348.

Clegg, a conjurer, humorous will of, 141;

music and drinking a feature of his funeral, 141;

to be dressed in his “roast-meat” clothes for burial, 141.

Clemens, Samuel L., will of, 348, 349.

Clergy, executors of early French wills, xii.

Clergymen, as affected by the will of Stephen Girard, 373, 374.

Cleveland, Grover, will of, 349, 350.

Clover blossom, yearly rental of a town park to be one, 232.

Cobham, Lady Joan De, will of, 25;

directions for burial, 25;

provision for seven thousand masses, 26.

Codicil, to will, 9.

Coffin, of plain boards covered with black calico, 128;

to hang for thirty years from beam in barn, 143;

and vault to be lighted by electricity, 149.

Cogan, John, bequest for encouragement to long service by maid-servants, 110.

Coke, Lord, comment on wills, vii, 6;

in _Butler and Baker’s Case_, 206.

Cold World, A, pathetic will so states, 82.

Collar box, a valid will on a, 168.

Columbus, Christopher, will of, 36;

a mere codicil, 36;

written in Latin, 36;

peculiar signature to, 36;

provides for an hospital, 36.

Confucius, quotation from, 225;

tomb of, 225;

Golden Rule of, 226.

“Coningsby,” will of Lord Monmouth in, 52.

Conjurer, humorous will of a, 141.

Conkling, Roscoe, will of, 351.

Cooke, John, provides for sweeping aisle of church, 106;

for a lantern to burn all night, 106.

Cooper, Edward, bequest of “a drinking,” 115.

Cooper, Ellen H., pathetic will of, 82.

Corcoran, William W., will of, 351, 352.

Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, bequest to, 351.

Corn, will of citizen of Berne to control price of, 118.

Cornfield, to be buried in a ploughed, 148.

Corning, Susan M., disputes over estate of, to be settled by arbitration, 177.

Cortusio, Lodovico, desired a gay funeral, 140;

disinherits those who weep and rewards laughter, 140;

a dowry for twelve girls who carried his body, 141;

his wishes observed to the least detail, 141.

Costs, in suit over Turner’s will, 314.

Cotton, Charles, and Izaak Walton, 316, 317.

“Count of Monte Cristo, The,” Old Noitier’s will in, 51.

“Country Doctor, The,” a weird custom described in, 241.

Court, requested not to make another will, 54.

Cows, bequest to provide, for use of the poor, 120.

Cremation, William Kinsett an early believer in, 127;

account of an early, in Dodsley’s _Annual Register_, 127.

Crittenden, William Logan, last lines from, 224, 225.

Cross, wood from the true, 23.

Crowell, W. H., spirit will of, 172.

Cumming, Dr. F. W., bequest for snuff and tobacco for poor, 116.

Cup, broken, bequest of, by Marquis d’ Aligre, 251.

Curious Wills, 73-202.

Curll, Edmund, rare and curious collection of wills of, 239, 240;

a list of those he published, 240.

Cynical will, a, 170.

Dalrymple, Sir David--_see_ Hailes, Lord.

Darkness, a horror of, 149;

provision against, 149.

Daughter, bequest of, by Eudamidas, 11.

Daughter, restrictions on marriage of, 23, 52.

Davis, Jefferson, will of, 352, 353.

Davis, Mary, ordered that she be dressed in cambric for burial, 124.

Davis, Mr., a bequest for liquor, 160.

Dean, Mr. Justice, remarks in a will case, 215.

Death, figure of on tombstone, 65.

Debts, strange clause in a will to provide for payment of, 315.

Decoration Day, Robert G. Ingersoll’s address on, 211.

Denny, Sir Thomas, will of, 65;

directions for tombstone and epitaph, 65.

De Ovies, Count Julian S., directs that his body be cremated

and his heart sent to Spain, 123.

Desbillons, François J. T., will of, in Latin, 65.

Desertion, by wife rewarded, 88.

Desk, a novel way of secreting will in a, 231.

Destroyed will, in “The Thunderbolt,” by Pinero, 55.

Devil, attempts to bequeath property to, 241.

Dice, bequest of Bibles decided by throwing, 170.

Dickens, Charles, a great will-maker, 55;

his views of the charitable institutions of Boston, 243;

of elderly testators, 243.

Dickinson, Charles C., eccentric will of, 80;

disliked Cayuga Lake, 80.

Dijon, Viscomte de, desired to be buried where people could

walk over his body, 123.

Dilke, Fisher, a miserly husband, 157.

_Dispatch_, the St. Paul, quotes will of the pardoned poet, 246, 247.

Disraeli, Benjamin, will of Lord Monmouth in “Coningsby,” 52.

Dodge, William E., bequest to eldest son for spread of the Gospel, 217;

views on charitable bequests, 217.

Dodsley’s _Annual Register_, 1769, an early account of a cremation, 128.

Dog, Mother Hubbard’s, will of, 62;

income from bank stock for a, 95;

for the care of a favorite, 95;

annuities for a, 96, 98;

suit to obtain damages for the killing of a, 438.

Dogs, hospital for, in Marseilles, 97;

bequest for three, 98;

pensioned by Mr. Berkeley, 99.

Domicile, place of, England or France, as affecting a will, 273.

Don Quixote, will of, 60.

Door, will written on a, 167.

Douglas, Stephen A., will of, 353, 354.

Dowe, Robert, bequest for exhortation to condemned prisoners in Newgate, 245;

the form of, 245, 246.

Dower, clause with regard to, in will of George G. Vest, 437.

Dowry, bequest of annual, for young girl of testator’s native village, 133;

conditional on beneficiaries dancing on his grave annually, 133.

Dress, will in the pocket of an old, 216.

Drinking, a bequest for, 115;

a feature at funeral of a conjurer, 142.

Drinking fountains, established by will of Phoebe Deliah Nye,

in St. Louis, 97.

Dryden, John, will of, 267, 268.

Dryenforth, Robert G., exacting and peculiar will of, 146;

his heir in a difficult position, 147.

Du Cange, Charles Dufresne, mentions wills on bark, xii.

Du Châtelet, desired to be buried standing, 123.

Duhalde, Paul, his partnership with God, 194;

the sincerity of his intentions, 195;

justified by his will, 196.

Dumas, Alexandre, Old Noitier’s will in “The Count of Monte Cristo,” 51.

Dumb Animals, bequests to, 90-102.

Dunlop, Dr., his humorous will not unmixed with malice, 179.

Duplicate, wills should be in, 9.

Dupuis, Madame, bequest for pet cats, 101;

instructions for feeding cats, 101.

Dwyer, Joseph, a valid will on wrapping-paper, 168.

Eads Bridge, St. Louis, ashes cast to the four winds from, 157.

Earle, William Benson, bequest for food for poor, and for

flowers on grave, 118.

Early Rising, bequests contingent on, 180.

Early Wills, in France, xii.

Earring, of Charles I, 244.

Earthly happiness, insured by refusal of proposals to marriage, 160.

Easter, love-feast, bequest to provide turkeys for, 120.

Eccentricities, wills a reflection of, xi.

Ecles-hall, England, in Izaak Walton’s will, 318.

Eddinger, Samuel, unique and illiterate will of, 188.

Eddy, Mary Baker G., will of, 354-361;

burial of, 361, 362.

Edmett, Thomas, annuity for favorite dog, 98.

Edmunds, John, unusual bequest of, 170.

Education, clauses relating to, in will of Cecil John Rhodes, 295;

in will of Sam Houston, 388;

in will of George Washington, 442.

Edward I, will of in French, 24;

his body to be boiled in a caldron, 24;

Edward II ignores request, 24.

Edward IV, will of, 268.

Edwin Forrest Home, The, 364-369.

Egypt, wills in, xii.

Elder, a certain, debarred from holding office in testator’s church, 220.

Eldon, Lord, annuity to his dog, 96;

Lord Campbell’s account of, 96;

his dog painted by Landseer, 96.

Elegy on a wife, 211, 212.

Eliot, George, Mr. Casaubon’s will in “Middlemarch,” 52.

Elizabeth, Queen, bequest for sermon in remembrance of, 174.

Elks, Alameda Lodge of, beneficiary under will of R. B. Tappan, 247.

Ellerby, Dr., bequeaths his heart, brain, and lungs to friends, 129.

Embalmed, body not to be, 25.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo, will of, 362-364.

England, wills known in, before Conquest, xii;

forbidden by law in, xii.

Engler, Lawrence, will of, 84;

peculiar provision in, 84.

Enigmatical will, of Rosine Barrot, 191.

Eno, Amos R., bequest to New York Chamber of Commerce for

impoverished members, 219.

Epitaph, instructions for, 65;

a unique, 125, 134;

of Robert Louis Stevenson, 233;

of Thomas Jefferson, 234;

of Queen Caroline, 266;

of Dean Swift, 310.

Erasmus, Dediderius, will of, 37;

in Latin, 37;

bequest to industrious young people, 38.

Ericsson, John, his nervousness, 213, 214;

will of, 214;

his remains sent to Sweden on U. S. S. _Baltimore_, 214.

Eudamidas of Corinth, will of, 11;

filial and parental affection shown by, 11.

Executor, a farmer’s idea of the duty of an, 221.

Executors, of wills, 9;

trust companies as, 248.

Fabyan, Robert, curious will of, 145;

detailed instructions for tomb of, 145.

Fanatical will, of Rev. William Hill, 187.

Fanciful will, “A Last Will,” 207-209.

Fane, John, bequest for prayers for his soul, 132.

Farrar, William, will of, 231.

Farren, William, his opinion of undergraduates, 174.

Faxon, William, phonograph reproduces his singing at his funeral, 226.

Fellowes, Sir Charles, will of, 268.

Female attire, a bequest contingent on a man wearing, 169.

Fiction and Poetry, wills in, 49-72.

Fish, bequest for, for poor in Lent, 120;

annuity for poor for, 121.

Fish, Williston, author of “A Last Will,” 207-209;

beautiful sentiment expressed by, 207.

Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, will of, 268, 269.

Fleming, Mr., was opposed to mustaches, 161.

Food, bequest of, for poor, 118.

Foreigners, wills of famous, 249-323.

Forgotten, John Underwood desired to be, 151.

Forrest, Edwin, will of, 364-369.

Fortunes, bequests for, honestly acquired, 170.

France, early wills in, xii;

executed by the clergy, xii.

François II., Duke of Brittany, bequest for masses, 134.

Franklin, Benjamin, will of, 369-371;

and Voltaire, 316.

Fraser, Dr., his bequest to the S. S. P. C. A., 181;

his opposition to vivisection, 181;

his dislike for funeral display, 181.

Freeman, Langton, buried in his bed in summer-house, 144;

his body mummified, 144.

Frenchman, eccentric will of a, 156;

devised fortune to people of London, 156;

desired new cooking recipes, 156;

makes restitution through insane asylum, 156;

peculiar clause in will of, regarding names of Anton and Antonie, 178.

Froissard, records will of Edward I., 24.

Fuller, Melville W., will of, 372.

Funeral, provision for, by William de Beauchamp, 23;

a pauper’s, for a wealthy man, 131;

to be “third class,” 137;

to be gay and mirthful, 140;

elaborate and costly, 149.

Funeral expenses, his, bequeathed to nephew by wealthy aunt, 124.

Furstone, Mr., bequest to any man of same name under certain conditions, 169.

Garasse’s “DOCTRINE CURIEUSE,” mentions will of Lodovico Cortusio, 140.

Garrick, David, will of, 269-271.

Garters, black and white, as a mark of respect, 173.

Gayer, John, Sir, bequest for a sermon on being saved from a lion, 169.

_Gazetta del Popolo_ (Turin), account of will for benefit of dogs, 98.

Gebhard, Frederic, will of, 230.

Generous bequests, made with a small estate, 159.

Geneva, benefited by will of Duke of Brunswick, 260, 261.

George, Mr., makes imaginary children residuary legatees, 160.

German, peculiar request of eccentric, 156;

his ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven, 156.

Germans, wills not recognized by ancient, xii.

Gest, John M., address on “Practical Suggestions for Writing Wills,” 205-207.

Gifts, _causa mortis_, 8.

Gilwee, James, provides trust fund for a favorite horse, 95.

Gimcrack, Nicholas, a virtuoso, will of, 56.

Girard, Stephen, will of, 372-375.

Girard College, 372-375.

Gloves, story of the Marquis d’Aligre’s, 249.

God, Paul Duhalde’s partnership with, 194;

thankfulness to, as expressed in will of Robert North, 200-202.

Gold coins and wine, distributed at funeral of Bakhuysen, 133.

Goldfish, legacy to, 91;

flowers for their graves, 91.

Goodaker, James, bequest to provide cows for use of poor of parish, 120.

Goodman, Valentine, bequest for most indigent paupers, 111;

or for redemption of Turkish captives, 112.

Gosden, his edition of the “Journey to Beresford Hall,” quoted, 316.

Gospel, bequest for spread of the, 217.

Gossip, Duchesse D’Olonne afraid of, 150.

Gould, Jay, will of, 375.

Grainger, Robert, bequest for bread for poor, 121.

Granary Burying-Ground (Boston), last resting place of “Mother Goose,” 63.

Grant, Ulysses S., died intestate, vii.

_Grates_ v. _Fraser_, 181.

Grave, bequest for flowers on, 118;

Du Châtelet desired perpendicular, 123;

Viscomte de Dijon desired people to walk over his, 123;

beneficiaries to dance on, 133;

a deep, 136;

tobacco to be planted on, 150;

acorns on, 155.

“Greater Testament, The,” by François Villon, will in, 64.

Greece, wills introduced into, by Solon, xii.

Greeley, Horace, will of, 376-378.

_Green Bag, The_, on wills of the novelists, 51;

account of “Mr. Meeson’s Will,” 53.

Green, Henry, four green waistcoats to be given yearly by beneficiary of, 111.

Greftulke, John Louis, fear of being buried alive, 148;

orders body embalmed and not buried, 148.

Gregory, James J. H., bequest for benefit of twins born in Marblehead, 109.

Griffen, Jesse H., desired no display at his funeral, 142;

his will written on a bill-head, 142.

Guardian, earliest known mention of, in a will, 13.

Haggard, H. Rider, “Mr. Meeson’s Will,” 53.

Hailes, Lord (Sir David Dalrymple), will of, 271.

Hair, weird custom relating to, of widow, 241.

Hall, John, bequest to provide turkeys for Easter love-feast, 120.

Halley, E. J., his will full of unique bequests, 163.

Halliday, Robert, bequest for promotion of brotherly love, 114.

Hamerton, Sir Richard, will of, 33.

Hamilton, Alexander, will of, 378, 379;

duel with Aaron Burr, 379, 380.

Hamilton, Lady, and Lord Nelson’s will, 280, 281.

Hampton, William, bequest of Interest Tables, 173.

Hand, Countess of Loudoun directs that her, be cut off, 125.

Harding, Robert, annuity for poor to buy cuttings of fish in Lent, 121.

Harper, Frederic, bequest for pet cat, 102.

_Harper’s Weekly_, on property rights of women, 75-78.

Harriman, Edward H., will of, 381.

Harris, Lundy H., unusual inventory filed by wife of, 226, 227.

Haskett, William J., his bequest to the New York Press Club, 186.

Hastings, Charles, the unique will of, 172.

Hastings, Charles, Sir, desired no coffin, 155;

his grave to be planted with acorns, 155.

Hatch, Rufus, advice to children in will of, 217.

Hatch, Thomas, bequest for marriage fees of poor couples, 113.

Haughery, Margaret, monument to, 213;

her work for charity, 213.

Hawley, General, drafted his own will out of hatred for lawyers, 167.

Hazlitt, William, on will making, in “Table Talk or Original Essays,” 49-51.

Heart, disposition and bequests of, 21, 23;

of Count De Ovies to be sent to Spain, 123;

of Sieur Boby to be removed and buried, 129;

of Dr. Ellerby to be preserved, 129.

Hedges, John, will of, in rhyme, 65.

Heemskirk, Martin, bequest for annual dowry for a young girl

of his native village, 133;

conditional on beneficiaries dancing on his grave annually, 133.

Heidelberg Library, Luther’s will in, 42.

Height, beneficiaries must be tall in, 161.

Helloin, M., buried in his bed as Death found him, 143.

Henry II. (England), will of, in “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry III. (England), will of, in “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry IV. (England), will of, in “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry V. (England), will of, in “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry VI. (England), will of, in “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry VII. (England), will of, 37;

opposed to pomp and ceremonial, 37;

will in “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry VIII. (England), will of, 43;

great testamentary powers conferred on, 43;

found in Nicholas’s “Testamenta Vetusta,” 43.

Henry, Patrick, will of, 381-386.

Henterus, his exact copy of Luther’s will, 42.

Heviant, Thomas, singular bequest for prizes for riding pigs, 102.

Hickington, William, will of, in rhyme, 66.

Highway, bequest for repair of, 31, 32.

Hill, William, fanatical will of, 187;

his religious belief, 187.

History of wills, 1;

a Roman invention, 2;

difficulty of making proper, 2;

making of, an important act, 2;

defects in, 2;

legality of, important, 3;

fallacies regarding, 3;

distinction between words in, 3;

illustration of improper phrasing, 4;

general framework of, 5;

proper time to make, 6;

gifts to charitable and kindred institutions in, 7;

legal advice in making, 8;

witnesses to, 8;

provision for children in, 8;

trust provisions in, 9;

executors of, 9;

codicils to, 9;

planning of, 9;

duplicates of, 9.

Holbein, Hans, will of, 42;

found in St. Paul’s Cathedral archives, 43.

Hollis, Thomas, peculiar instructions for burial of, 148.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, will of, 386.

Holybrande, William, kindness to widow enjoined by, 83.

Home, heirs must remain at, 84.

Homer, cites will of Telemachus, 11.

Hood, Thomas, will of, 272.

Hook, Major, his original method of prolonging an annuity, 185.

Hopkins, Johns, will of, 387;

anecdote of, 410.

Hopkins, Stephen, will of, 387, 388.

Horace, mentions wills, xii.

Horse, will in favor of a, 94.

Horse-racing, contingent bequest for, 176.

Horses, testators, to be shot, 93;

bequest to twelve, 94;

hospital for, in Marseilles, 97;

to be shot the day after owner’s funeral, 131;

complication over bequest of black and white, 178.

Hospital, for Idiots, money bequeathed for, by Dean Swift, 311.

Houston, Sam, will of, 388, 389.

Howard, Samuel D., will of an entombed miner, 238, 239.

Howden, Lord, will of, 272, 273.

Howe, Julia Ward, will of, 389, 390.

Humorous will, not without malice, 179;

suggested by _Puck_, 220, 221.

Hungerford, Lady Joane, will of, 31;

provides for three thousand masses, 31;

torches to be held by poor women suitably clothed, 32;

provides for mourning for her family, 32.

Hunnis, William, will of, in rhyme, 70.

Hunter, Caroline, legacy to a parrot, 93.

Hunter, Elizabeth, annuity to pet parrot, 92.

Huntingdon, John, devise to provide white peas for poor, 122.

Huntington, Collis P., his directions as to investments, 219.

Hurst, Edward, peculiar requirement as to marriage of son, 89.

Husband, two hundred dollars for a, 78;

a contrite, 81;

must not remarry, 228.

Husbands, duty of, to make wills, 75.

Husbands, wives, and children, 73-90.

Idiots, Hospital for, _see_ Insane Asylum.

Idol, devise of lands to an, held valid, 241, 242.

Illegitimate children, school for, 162;

having, a bar to inheritance, 189.

Illiterate wills, 188.

Imber, Luke, directs that he be buried in an old chest, 124.

Indian slaves, valuation of, in tobacco in colonial times, 231.

Infidel, wishes of an, ignored by relatives, 132.

Ingalls, John James, will of, 390, 391.

Ingersoll, Robert G., address on Decoration Day, 211.

Insane Asylum, French lawyer makes restitution through, 156;

provided for in will of Swift, 311.

Inscription, _see_ Epitaph.

Interest, bequest for best dissertation on putting money out at, 228.

Interest Tables, bequest of, as incentive to economy, 173.

Interment, _see_ Burial.

Inventory, an unusual, 226, 227.

“Iris,” by Pinero, will in, 54;

widow forbidden to remarry, 54.

Irish, an Englishman’s bequest for whiskey for the extermination of the, 182.

_Irish Law Times_, comments on oldest written will, 12.

Irving, Washington, will of, 391, 392.

Italian nobleman, revengeful will of, 81.

Jackett, Will, will of, in rhyme, 67.

Jackson, Andrew, will of, 392-394.

Jackson, Helen Hunt, her desire to be buried on Cheyenne Mountain, 234.

Jackson, Jonathan, bequest for cats’ home, 101.

Jackson, Luke, devise for the preaching of sermons, and for the poor, 109.

Jacob, makes earliest known reference to testamentary disposition, 10;

will of, 11.

James, Jefferson G., eccentric will of, 235;

his aversion to European travel, 235.

Jay, John, will of, 395.

Jefferson, Joseph, will of, 396, 397.

Jefferson, Thomas, his grave on the crest of Monticello

(“Little Mountain”), 234;

his epitaph, 234;

monument to, 234;

will of, 397-400.

Jekyll, Dr., _see_ “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

Jerome, Jerome K., humorous description of wills, 54.

Jewelry, bequest of, by Sennacherib, 13.

Jewess, will of rich, provided that her body be taken to

Jerusalem for interment, 144.

Jilted lover, unique will of a, 230.

Job, said to have left a will, xii;

will of, 10.

Johns Hopkins Hospital, 387.

Johns Hopkins University, 387.

Johnson, Cora, had a small estate, but made generous bequests, 159.

Johnson, Dr. Samuel, will of, xiii, 273, 274;

letter of, to Lord Chesterfield, 274, 275.

Johnston-Wood, Harriette M., on property rights of women,

in _Harper’s Weekly_, 75-78.

Jolly Testator Who Makes His Own Will, The, 209, 210.

Jones, Charles, bequest for an hospital for 12 poor men of Pullhelly, 105.

Katherine of Aragon, will of, 39.

Kelley, Eugene, tribute to his friend in will of, 217, 218;

preferences in charitable bequests, 218.

Kennerley, Mitchell, his tribute to his deceased wife, 211, 212.

King, W. R. Smee’s delusion that he was the son of a, 190.

Kingston, Duchess of, _see_ Chudleigh.

Kinsett, William, an early believer in cremation, 127.

Klaës, Mr., known as the “King of Smokers,” 200;

his bequests of pipes and tobacco, 200;

tobacco and smoking utensils in his coffin, 200.

Lalanne, M., a pauper’s funeral for a wealthy man, 131.

Lamb, Charles, quoted on Izaak Walton, 316.

Lancaster, Dukes of, wills of, 25.

Lane, Richard, bequest for church music, 162.

Langland, William, the will in “Vision of Piers Plowman,” 63.

Lantern, to be lighted all night, 105, 106.

Last Will and Testament, Importance of the, 1-9.

Laughter, the heartiest, to indicate the principal heir, 140.

Launde, Sir Robert, will of, 25.

Laurens de la Barre, du, Adolphe-Théodore-Ange, bequest for

marriage portion to girls of republican opinions, 108.

Law-suit, as affecting the heirs of Chief Justice Marshall, 407.

Lawyers, General Hawley’s dislike for, 167.

Lawyer’s Best Friend, 209.

L. C., annuity in will of, for stray dogs, 98;

annuity for favorite dog, 98.

Lee, Robert E., will of, 401, 402.

Legal advice, desirability of, 8.

Leland Stanford Junior University, 428.

Lent, bequest for fish for poor in, 120;

annuity for fish for poor in, 121.

“Lesser Testament, The,” by François Villon, will in, 64.

Letters, of husband and children to be placed in coffin of

Anna Margaret Birkbeck, 140.

Lewes, George Henry, will of, 276.

Libel, an instance of testamentary, 181.

Library, the Pepysian, 294;

of Richelieu, 300;

of Izaak Walton, 319;

of John Quincy Adams, 327;

of Thomas H. Benton, 337;

of Ralph Waldo Emerson, 362;

of Edwin Forrest, 366;

of Thomas Jefferson, 399;

of James Madison, 406;

of Alexander Stephens, 431;

of Martin Van Buren, 434.

Lick, James, will of, 402, 403.

Lincoln, Abraham, died intestate, vii.

Ling, John, unique will of, 78.

Lion, bequest for a sermon in gratitude for being saved from a, 169.

Literary works, clauses in wills referring to:

in will of Florence Nightingale, 282, 287;

in will of Mark Twain, 349;

in will of Ralph Waldo Emerson, 362;

in will of Horace Greeley, 376;

in will of Washington Irving, 391;

in will of James Madison, 406;

in will of James Monroe, 408;

in will of Daniel Webster, 450;

in will of J. G. Whittier, 451, 452.

Loans, to poor people provided by will of Peter Burns, 103.

Logan, James, on William Penn’s will, 293.

London, people of, heirs of eccentric Frenchman, 156.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, quoted, on Florence Nightingale, 281;

will of, 403, 404.

Loss of wills, 252, 268, 271, 302, 304, 305.

“Lost Dauphin,” remorse of Duchesse d’Angoulême for the, 242.

Loudoun, Countess of, directs that her hand be cut off and buried, 125.

Love, Alice, will of, 35;

bequest of her wardrobe, 35.

Lungs, of Dr. Ellerby to be preserved, 129.

Luther, John B., “anticipating the past” in his will, 90.

Luther, Martin, will of, 41;

uncertainty concerning authenticity of, 41;

Van Proet’s comment concerning, 41;

Seckendorff’s remarks on, 41;

copy of, by Henterus, 42;

Ranke’s researches regarding, 42;

original in Heidelberg Library, 42;

his confidence in his wife, 41.

McElroy, Robert J., pathetic will of, 168.

McKinley, William, last prayer of, 222, 223;

will of, 404.

Madison, Dolly P., will of, 405.

Madison, James, will of, 405-407.

Mai, Cardinal, discovers and publishes will of Job, 10.

Maid-servants, bequest to encourage long service by, 110.

Malevolent will, a, 88.

Malicious will, of Dr. Dunlop, but with much humor, 179.

Maliciousness, in wills, 251, 289-291.

Manney, Sir Walter, will of, 29;

a penny for the poor at his funeral, 29.

Manuscript, disposition of, by Virgil, 16.

March, Amy Curtis, will of, in “Little Women,” 58.

Maria Cristina, Queen Dowager of Spain, will of, 276.

Markhouse, John, his will allowed, its codicil rejected, 162;

founds school for illegitimate children, 162.

Mark Twain, _see_ Clemens, Samuel L.

Marriage, peculiar requirement as to, 89.

Marriage, restrictions on, of daughter, in will of William de Beauchamp, 23.

Marriage fees, bequests for, of poor couples, 113.

Marriage portion, bequest for, with conditions, 175.

Married, must be, within a week, 79.

Marseilles, hospital for dogs and horses in, 97.

Marshall, ----, will for charitable purposes disallowed as

perpetuity was involved, 102.

Marshall, Isabella, daughter of Earl of Pembroke, wills heart

to her brother, 21.

Marshall, John, chief justice, will of, 407, 408.

Martin, Francis Offley, his desire to curtail funeral expenses, 154.

Martinett, Daniel, unique will of, 164;

his use of plain English, 165.

Mary Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart), will of, 44;

written on eve of execution, 44;

provides for prayers in perpetuity, 45.

Mary Stuart, _see_ Mary Queen of Scots.

Mass, the legality of a, 216.

Masses, seven thousand, 26;

three thousand, 32;

bequest for foundation of, and instructions for bell ringing, 133, 134.

Mausoleum, a costly, for a New York spinster, 135.

Meat, bequest for, for poor, 115.

Mellent, Earl of, will of the, 21.

“Memoirs of an Heiress,” the will in, 56.

“Memorabilia Judaica,” contains will of Pinedo, the Portuguese Jew, 104.

Memory, A, 212.

Menial service, required by rich testator of his heirs, 87.

“Merchant of Venice,” will of Portia’s father in, 56.

“Middlemarch,” Mr. Casaubon’s will in, 52.

Milk, devise to provide, for poor, 122.

Miners, wills of entombed, 237-239.

Minta, William, bequest for bread for poor, and for tolling the bell, 116.

Mirandola, Count of, annuity to a pet carp, 92.

Miscellaneous wills, 158-202.

Mississippi, religious bequests forbidden by laws of State of, 216.

“Miss Nancy,” origin of the term, 219.

Mr. Casaubon’s will, in “Middlemarch,” 52;

codicil to prevent wife marrying Ladislaw, 52.

“Mr. Meeson’s Will,” by H. Rider Haggard, 53;

tattooed on back of heroine, 53;

probated by photographic copy, 54.

Modesty, views of a Yorkshire rector on, 186.

Monmouth, Lord, will of, in “Coningsby,” 52.

Monroe, James, will of, 408, 409.

Montagu, Edward Wortley, his will more generous than polite, 175.

Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de, will of, 277.

Morgan, Lewis Evan, his fortune to his servant with a “clamorous tongue,” 166.

Morlet, Professor, bequest of his skull to the anatomical

museum of Berne, 135;

his name to be engraved on it, 136.

Morris, Gouverneur, will of, 409.

Mother, bequest of, by Eudamidas, 11;

pathetic affection of a, 148.

Mother Hubbard’s Dog, will of, 62.

Mountain, Robert Louis Stevenson’s desire to be buried on a, 233.

Mourning, provided by Lady Hungerford for her family, 32;

opposition to, 127, 154, 155, 173;

desire for, 155.

Music, at funeral of Cortusio to be light and joyful, 140.

Mustaches, antipathy to wearing of, 87, 161.

Mutual Wills, danger in, 85.

Name, bequests by John Nicholson to poor of same, 112;

bequest designed to perpetuate a, 169;

eccentric will of a Frenchman regarding, 178.

Napoleon, will of, formerly at Doctors’ Commons, xiii;

restored to French nation, xiii;

will of, 277-279.

Nash, Ezekiel, bequest for bread for poor, 116;

a memorial of his gratitude to God, 116.

National Debt, bequest for paying, of England and France, 228.

Nelson, Horatio, Lord, will of, xiii, 280, 281.

Newborough, Lord, curious provision in will of, regarding reinterment, 132.

Newspaper reading, enjoined by Vienna banker in bequest to nephew, 161.

New York Press Club, bequest to, by William J. Haskett, 186.

Nicholas’s “Testamenta Vetusta,” contains wills of many sovereigns, 43.

Nicholson, John, bequests to poor of same name, 112.

Nightingale, Florence, her body left for dissection, 177;

will of, 281-289.

Noah, said to have left a will, xii;

reputed will of, 10.

Nobel, Alfred Bernard, will of, establishing the Nobel Prizes, 229.

Nobel Prizes, foundation of, 229.

Noitier’s will, in “The Count of Monte Cristo,” 51.

Norman Conquest, wills known in England before the, xii.

Normandy, Duke of (Richard-sans-Peur), desired the utmost

simplicity in his burial, 152.

North, Robert, his thankfulness to God, as expressed in his will, 200-202.

_North American Review_, editorial on wills, 1.

Northumberland, Duchess of, desired no autopsy, 132.

Nose, bequest to Miss B., in admiration of her adorable, 158.

Note-book, will of John D. Potter written in an old, 220.

Nouilles, Countess Anna Maria Helena de, peculiar stipulations

in will of, 103.

Novelist, Wills of the, 51-62;

the _Green Bag_ on, 51.

Nuns, how a sick traveller imposed on the, of Auxerre, 171.

Nye, Phoebe Deliah, provides for chloroforming her favorite dog, 97;

establishes drinking fountains in St. Louis for animals, 97.

Obelisk, to be buried in the shadow of an, 134.

Offe, Robert, kindness to widow enjoined by, 83.

O’Kelly, Pat, will of, in rhyme, 68.

Oldest Written Will, the, 12.

Oldfield, Anna, original of “Miss Nancy,” 219.

Olivia, will of, in “Twelfth Night,” 56.

Olonne, Duchesse D’, eccentric will of, 149;

exacting requirements regarding funeral of, 149, 150;

her servants exiled, 150.

Opera, heir of Stanislas Poltzmarz must appear in, 184.

Oral bequests, Biblical tradition of, 11.

Oral will, probably delivered on deathbed, 13.

Original will, an, 87.

“Orley Farm,” the will in, 52;

forgery of codicil to, 52;

widow convicted of perjury, 53.

Ostentatious will, of Matthew Wall, 174.

Oxford University, scholarships established at, by Cecil John Rhodes, 295.

Palmerston, Lady, tribute to husband in will of, 89.

Paper-knives, Charles Asselineau’s unique collection of, 163.

Parker, John, will of, 86.

Parker, William, kindness to widow enjoined by, 83.

Parren, Ellen Elizabeth, her obsequies of a bright character, 153;

a unique funeral cortège, 154.

Parrot, life of, depends on contest of will, 92;

annuity for, 92, 93;

must have handsome cage, 93.

Pastor, a certain, debarred from preaching in testator’s church, 220.

Pathetic will, 82;

of entombed miners, 237-239.

Paupers, bequest to most indigent, 111.

Peabody, George, philanthropy of, 409, 410;

will of, 410.

Peas, devise to provide white, for poor, 122.

Pedler and his Dog, A, statue of, 167;

ownership of Pedler’s Acre contingent on preservation of, 167.

Pedler’s Acre, contingent on preservation of a statue, 167.

Pegati, Joe, the will of an entombed miner, 237, 238.

Pelham, Sir William, will of, 40;

sermons to be preached for, 40.

Pembroke, Philip, Earl of, will of, 289-291.

Pembroke, William, Earl of, his widow must not remarry, 228.

Penn, William, will of, 291-293.

_Peoples Pulpit_, the, quotation from, 90.

Pepys, Samuel, will of, 294.

Pepysian Library, the, 294.

Perpetuities, rule against, 3.

Perpetuity, a gift in, 35.

Perram, John, bequest for a marriage portion with conditions, 175;

contingent bequest for horse-racing, 176.

Perren, Madame Veuve, bequest to Marseilles for hospital

for dogs and horses, 97.

Petrarch, will of, 26;

selects place of burial, 27;

bequest to Boccaccio, 27.

Petrie, William M. P., discovers oldest written will, 12.

Pette, Reginald atte, an early bequest for church improvements, 162.

Pew, use of a, exchanged for sealskin sack, 219.

Philadelphia, Penn., benefited by the will of Benjamin Franklin, 370, 371;

by the will of Stephen Girard, 373-375.

Phonograph, voice of William Faxon reproduced at his funeral by, 226.

Pierre II., Duke of Brittany, bequest for masses, 133.

Piers Plowman, _see_ “Vision of Piers Plowman.”

Pig, will of a, 21.

Pigs, singular bequest for prizes for riding, 102.

“Pincher,” Lord Eldon’s dog, receives annuity, 96;

painted by Landseer, 96.

Pinedo, the Portuguese Jew, munificent bequests in will of, 104.

Pinero, Arthur W., will in “Iris,” 54;

“The Thunderbolt” based on a will, 55.

Piper, Mary Thomas, bequeaths his funeral expenses to nephew, 124.

Pipes, the “King of Smokers’” collection of, 200;

bequests of, 200.

Pitt, Rev. Mr., bequest for bread for poor, 118.

Pitt, William, will of, xiii.

“Plain English,” use of, in will of Daniel Martinett, 165.

Plan, general, for making a will, 5.

Plato, will of, 14.

Playing cards, directions that a pack be placed in the coffin, 128.

Pocket, will in the, of an old dress, 216.

Poet, will of the pardoned, 246, 247.

Poetry or Rhyme, Wills in, 49-72.

Police Station, generous bequest to a, 158.

Polk, James K., will of, 411, 412.

Poltzmarz, Stanislas, stipulation that his heir must appear in opera, 184.

Poor, at burial of Sir Walter Manney to receive one penny, 29.

Poor man, quotation on a, 215.

Pope, Alexander, satire on Eustace Budgell, 58.

Porter, Edmund, devise for milk for poor, 122;

since commuted for bread, 122.

Portrait, of favorite brother to be placed in coffin, 140.

Potter, John D., his will written in an old note-book, 220.

Powder Plot, bequest for sermon on deliverance from, 174.

Powell, Byrd, bequest of his skull to a pupil, 136.

“Practical Suggestions for Writing Wills,” by John M. Gest,

in _American Law Register_, 205.

Praslin, Duchesse de, will of, 81.

Prayer, widow to spend life in, 81.

Primitive Belief, A, regarding the spirit, 122.

Prisoners, bequest for exhortation to condemned, in Newgate, 245.

_Prison Mirror_, will of the pardoned poet “Anglicus,” 246, 247.

Probates, R. B. Tappan, his own will, 247.

Profanity, a bar to inheritance, 189.

Property rights of women, 75-78.

_Prophet’s Beard Case, The_, sensation caused by, 184.

_Puck_, humorous will suggested by, 220, 221.

Pullman, George M., will of, 412, 413.

Pym, William, will of, 87.

Questions, claimant of estate must answer thirty, 236.

R., Mr., fear of being buried alive and precautions against, 130.

Rabelais, will of, 43.

Radier’s, “Recréations Historiques,” mentions will of Lodovico Cortusio, 140.

Raisins, bequest for, to boys of Christ’s Hospital, 118.

Ralli, Theodore James, bequests to art institutions, 126;

wanted no mourning, 127.

Randall, Robert Richard, founder of the “Sailors’ Snug Harbor,” 218.

Randall, Samuel J., small estate of, 218.

Randolph, John, will of, 413-420.

Ranke, Leopold von, researches regarding Luther’s will, 42.

Reading of will, stipulation regarding, 104.

Recipes, eccentric Frenchman desired new cooking, 156.

Redding, Maria, curious instructions in will of, 149;

an economical provision, 149.

Redman, John, peculiar will of, 136;

a deep grave, 136;

codicil to will of, 137;

wine for his executors, 137.

Reed, John, bequest of his skull to the “properties” of

Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia), 136;

to represent the skull of “Yorick,” 136.

Registry of Wills, London, wills of famous personages in, xiii.

Registry of Wills, Washington, contains wills of famous Americans, xiii.

Religious bequests, restrictions on, in United States, 216.

Remarriage, of husband, forbidden, 228.

Remarriage, of widow, restrictions on, 5, 15, 54, 228.

Remsen, Daniel S., comments on making of wills, 2.

Residuary legatees, Mr. George makes imaginary children, 160.

Revenge, will made in, 81.

Revere, Paul, will of, 420, 421.

Rhodes, Cecil John, directs that he be buried in the Mattopo Hills, 233;

will of, 294-296.

Rhyme, Wills in, 49-72.

Ricard, Fortune, will of, 228;

the five funds established by, 228.

Richard-sans-Peur, _see_ Normandy, Duke of.

Richardson, Mary, an important word omitted in will of, 190.

Richelieu, Cardinal, will of, 296-302;

the extravagance and pompousness of, 297;

his library, 300.

Riedel, Robert, a veteran’s bequest to his old comrades, 123.

Rigid conditions, in bequest to poor, 112.

Rings, bequeathed by Izaak Walton, 319.

Roe, T. P., provides by will for her pet dog, 95.

Roman Law, origin of testamentary disposition in, xii, 2.

Romans, will-making invention of, 2.

Roman Wills, sealing of, xii.

Rose, yearly tribute of one red, 233.

Rosebery, Lord, address on Byron, xi.

Rosière of Puteaux, establishment of, 114;

first beneficiary of, 114.

Rousseau, Jean Jacques, will of, 302-304.

Ruffell, William, will of, in rhyme, 68.

Sacrilegious Will, in rhyme, 68.

Sage, Russell, will of, 422, 423.

Saguma, Lieutenant, letter of, written in destroyed submarine, 236, 237.

“Sailors’ Snug Harbor,” founded by Robert Richard Randall, 218.

St. Jerome, mentions the will of a pig, 20.

St. Leonards, Lord, will of, 304, 305.

_St. Louis Times_, the, comments on the “Two-hundred-dollar Husband,” 79.

St. Patrick’s Hospital, provided for, in Swift’s will, 311.

Saints, desired the company of the, 132.

Saladin, will of, 21.

Salter, John, Sir, a salutation required by, 158.

Salutation, a yearly, required by Sir John Salter, 158.

Sand, George, her curiosity regarding a mysterious packet, 242;

its result, 242, 243.

Sandwich, Dowager Countess of, desired no display at her funeral, 149.

Sarcastic Will, of a British sailor, 80;

of Edward Wortley Montagu, 175.

Sargeant, J., his bequests contingent on early rising and temperance, 180.

Satirical will, of Rabelais, 43.

Say, Maud De, her request for a simple burial, 148.

Scardeon’s “Vies des Jurisconsultes de Padoue,” mention

will of Lodovico Cortusio, 140.

Scarron, Paul, will of, in verse, 63.

Scenery, Lord Camelford desired beautiful, 152.

Scholarships, established by Cecil John Rhodes, 295.

Schumann, Carl, directs that his body be cremated and his

ashes tossed to the winds, 127.

Sealskin sack, use of a pew exchanged for a, 219.

Sennacherib, will of, 13.

Sermon, will of Elias Boudinot contained a lengthy, 192.

Sermons, twenty to be preached for Sir William Pelham, 40;

devise for the preaching of, 109.

Servant, unfortunate result of beneficiary marrying a domestic, 183.

Shakespeare, William, will of, xiii, 305-309;

Olivia’s will in “Twelfth Night,” 56;

will of Portia’s father in “Merchant of Venice,” 56.

Shelley, Phillip, devise for benefit of maimed soldiers, 107.

Sherman, John, will of, 424-427.

Shirt, mentioned in will of Saladin, 22.

Silhouette, Etienne, will of, 309;

history of, 309.

_Silhouette_, origin of the word, 309.

Sixpences, peculiar bequest of, 139.

Skulls, various bequests of, 135, 136.

Slavery, release from, by will, 14, 15, 16.

Slaves, clauses in will concerning:

in will of Henry Clay, 345, 347;

in will of Patrick Henry, 383;

in will of Andrew Jackson, 393;

in will of Thomas Jefferson, 400;

in will of R. E. Lee, 402;

in will of James Madison, 406;

in will of Chief Justice Marshall, 408;

in will of John Randolph, 414-416;

in will of George Washington, 440;

in will of Mary Washington, 447, 448.

Smee, W. R., his will disallowed, 190;

his delusion that he was the son of a king, 190.

Smiles, bequest to young lady who, so sweetly, 158.

Smith, George T., the three-word will of, held invalid, 169.

Smithers, his brief will in rhyme, 62.

Smithson, James, his foundation of the Smithsonian Institution, 218.

Smithsonian Institution, foundation of, 218.

Smoking, wonderful record of Mr. Klaës in, 200.

Snuff, bequest for, for poor, 116.

Soldiers, devise for benefit of maimed, 107.

Solon, said to have introduced wills in Greece, xii.

South, Sir James, annuity for favorite dog, 98.

Spackman, Thomas, bequest to poor who attend church on stated days, 111.

Spanish Armada, _see_ Armada, The Spanish.

Spirit will, of W. H. Crowell, 172.

Spiteful wills, 229, 230.

Stafford, England, in Izaak Walton’s will, 318.

Stafford, Henry, Earl of, will of, 85;

unhappy marriage of, 85.

Standish, Myles, will of, 427, 428.

Stanford, Jane Lathrop, will of, 427, 428.

Starkey, John, tribute to wife in will of, 82.

Staverton, George, provides by will for bull-baiting, 110;

since discontinued, 111.

Steinberg, Adolph, will of, in mysterious trunk, 173.

Stephens, Alexander, will of, 429-431.

Stevenson, Robert Louis, will of Dr. Jekyll, 52;

the directions for his burial, 233;

his epitaph, 233.

Steward, testator’s opinion of his, 87.

Stiegel, Heinrich Wilhelm, unique rental for a church lot, 233.

Stock, Ottilie, will of, 92;

contest over, 92.

Stow, John Hylett, his bequest of the picture of a viper, 180;

the suit for libel which resulted, 181.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, will of, 431, 432.

“Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” will of Dr. Jekyll, 52.

Stray Dogs, annuity for benefit of, 98.

Striewe, Sophia, peculiar clause in will of, 232.

Study, restrictions on hours of, 103.

Submarine, letter written in destroyed Japanese, 236, 237.

Sugden, the Honorable Miss Charlotte, daughter of Lord St. Leonards, 304.

_Sun, The_ (New York), account of an unusual marriage, 78.

“Sunnyside,” Washington Irving’s estate, 391, 392.

Swift, Jonathan, will of, 309-313.

Swinburne, Henry, author of “A briefe Treatise of Testaments

and Last Willes,” 215;

story told by, 215.

Symonds, Peter, bequest to boys of Christ’s Hospital, for raisins, 118.

“Table Talk or Original Essays,” Hazlitt on will making in, 49-51.

Tacitus, mentions wills, xii.

_Tageblatt_, the, account of a peculiar provision for beer, 106.

Tapley, Valentine, his pride in his whiskers, 156;

a strong tomb to protect, 156.

Tappan, R. B., probates his own will, 247, 248.

Tassoni, Alessandro, will of, 47, 48.

_Tatler_, the, will of Nicholas Gimcrack in, 56.

Taylor, William, bequest for Christmas dinner to almshouse women, 116.

Teacher, vocation of, ennobled by Louis Agassiz, 198.

Teeth, fund created to care for, of Boston (Mass.) school children, 232.

Telemachus, will of, cited by Homer, 11.

Temperance, bequests contingent on, 180.

Terral, E. Y., provides for no funeral services and a simple burial, 128.

“Testamenta Vetusta,” ii, will of Robert Fabyan, 145.

Testamentary and kindred miscellany, 203-248.

Testamentary capacity, 203-205.

Testators, Charles Dickens’s views on elderly, 243.

Thake, John, bequest for fish for poor in Lent, 120.

Theatrical Woman’s League, the, 397.

Three-word will, not valid, 169.

“Thunderbolt, The,” by Pinero, based on a will, 55.

Tilden, Samuel J., will of, 433.

“Tilden Trust, The,” 433.

Tobacco, bequest for, for poor, 116;

to be planted on grave, 150.

Tolam, Dennis, singular will of, 183;

original method of paying bequests, 183.

Tolerant nature, a, shown in will of William Wilson, 108.

Tolstoi, Leo, Count, last words of, 223.

Tombstone, dropping money on, for the poor, 109.

Torches, to be held by poor women suitably clothed, 32;

of sixteen pounds’ weight, held by poor men, 32.

Toste, Robert, directs that his body be buried under step of altar, 124.

Tourville, M. de., right to estate of wife whom he murdered denied, 235, 236.

Town crier, bequest for, in will of Roland Williams, 239.

Towns, bequest for building, in France, 228.

Townsend, Elizabeth, bequest for singing of favorite anthems, 178.

Travel, aversion to European, 235.

Travellers’ Rest, devise of land and buildings for, 107.

Trollope, Anthony, the will in “Orley Farm,” 52.

Trousers, eccentric manner of distributing money by means of, 177.

Troutbeck, John, his vainglorious will, 179.

Trunk, Sieur Benoît desired to be buried in a leather, 138;

will of Adolph Steinberg in mysterious, 173.

Truro, Lady, simplicity in obsequies of, 155.

Trust, provision for, 9.

Trust Companies, as executors, 248.

Tuke, M., bequeaths one penny to each child attending his funeral, 125;

an annuity to woman who tucked him up in bed, 125;

bread to be thrown to poor on Christmas Day, from church roof, 125.

Turkeys, bequest to provide, for Easter love-feast, 120.

Turkish captives, conditional bequest to, 112.

Turner, J. M. W., will of, 314, 315.

Turner, Miss, peculiar restrictions in will of, 183;

unfortunate result of, 183.

Turner, Sharon, tribute to wife in will of, 83.

Turvyle, John, will of, 35;

a gift in perpetuity, 35.

“Twelfth Night,” Olivia’s will in, 56.

Twins, bequest for benefit of, born in Marblehead (Mass.), 109.

Underclothes, beneficiary not to wear, in winter, 159.

Undergraduates, poor opinion of, held by William Farren, 174.

Undertaker, paid in advance, 226.

Underwood, John, his epitaph, 150;

unique funeral of, 150, 151;

the books placed in his coffin, 151;

his desire to be forgotten, 151.

University, George Washington’s bequest for the establishment of, 442.

Uxoricide, rights of an, denied, 235.

Vainglorious Will, the, of John Troutbeck, 179.

Valet, bequest of Marquis d’Aligre to his, 251.

Van Bunschooten, Rev. Dr., will to be read by Church at all

official meetings, 104.

Van Buren, Martin, will of, 433-436.

Van Proet, M., comment on Luther’s will, 41.

Vanderbilt, ----, bequest to Miss B., in admiration of her adorable nose, 158.

Vanderbilt, Cornelius, Commodore, his view of Alexander Stewart’s will, 232.

Vandyck, Anthony, will of, xiii.

Vangelas, Claude Favre de, will of, 315.

Varembon, François de la Palu, _see_ Beaumont sur Vingeanne, Seigneur de.

Vassar, Matthew, will of, 436, 437.

Vassar College, 436, 437.

Vest, George G., will of, 437-439;

extract from speech of, on dog, 438, 439.

Villon, François, wills in verse in his “The Lesser Testament,”

and “The Greater Testament,” 64.

Vindictive Will, 86.

Viper, bequest of a picture of a, 180.

Virgil, will of, 16;

disposition of Æneid, 16;

directions for burial, 16.

Virtue, rewarded by will of wealthy New Yorker, 186;

bequests for the purpose of aiding, 250, 258, 259.

Virtuoso, will of a, 56.

“Vision of Piers Plowman,” will in, 63.

Vivisection, Dr. Fraser’s opposition to, 181.

Voltaire, F. M. A. de, will of, 315;

and Benjamin Franklin, 316.

Wagner, Dr., grewsome bequests of, 167.

Waistcoats, four green, to be given yearly to poor women, 111.

Wales, Prince of, Edward (1376), will of, 30.

Walker, Thomas, bequest to encourage attendance at church, 115.

Wall, Matthew, ostentatious will of, 174.

Wallace, John W., directions for a simple funeral and for cremation, 130.

Walpole, Horace, account of peculiar preamble to a will, 54.

Walton, Izaak, will of, xiii, 316-320.

Wardall, John, provides for lantern to be lighted all night, 105.

Washington, George, will of, xiii, 439-447.

Washington, Mary, will of, 447, 448.

Webster, Daniel, will of, 448-451.

Weeping, the relative found, to be disinherited, 140.

Weight, a bequest to daughters by, 161.

Wellesley, Arthur, _see_ Wellington, Duke of.

Wellington, Duke of, will of, xiii, 320, 323.

West, Joshua, will of, in rhyme, 69.

West, Lady Alice, will of, 30;

bequest of her books, 31.

_Western Reserve Law Journal_, editorial on testamentary habits, 73-75.

Whiskers, Valentine Tapley’s pride in his, 156.

Whisky, bequest for, for extermination of the Irish, 182.

Whitbread, Samuel, bequest in honor of John Bunyan for bread for poor, 117.

White, desired, to be worn at funeral, 152.

White, Dr. Thomas, bequest to poor with rigid conditions, 112.

Whittier, John G., will of, 451-453.

Widow, legacy to, doubled if she married, 80;

kindness to, enjoined by testator, 83.

Widow, restrictions on marriage of, 15, 54.

Widow’s cap, legacy depending upon wearing of, 88.

Wife, would not be good, 84;

desertion by, rewarded, 88;

curious revenge on a nagging, 89;

elegy on a, 211, 212.

Wilcocks, John, ambiguous wording in will of, 126.

Wilcox, Robert, bequests for three sermons on the Powder

Plot, Queen Elizabeth, and deliverance from the Spanish Armada, 174.

Williams, Roland, peculiar bequest in will of, 239.

Williamson, Thomas, bequest for meat for poor for stormy weather, 115.

Willie, Smith, extraordinary will of, 170.

Will-making, on, 49-51.

Wilson, John, unique method of finding missing son, 236.

Wilson, William, bequest for sick poor, 108.

Windsor, Thomas, will of, 32;

torches to be held by poor men at his burying and _monethe’s minde_, 32;

one hundred children at his _monethe’s minde_, 33;

priests to sing at his _monethe’s minde_, 33.

Wine, will of citizen of Berne to control price of, 118.

Winslow, Frederick Christian, singular provision regarding his horses, 93.

Winslow, Mary Chilton, will of, 453.

Winter, beneficiary not to wear underclothes in, 159.

Withipol, J., will of, 81;

a contrite spirit, 81.

Witnesses, importance of, 4;

not interested in the instrument, 8.

Wives, beautiful sentiments to, 82, 83;

desired to be buried between his two, 132.

Woeltge, Albert, makes mutual will with wife, 85.

Woeltge, Mary Louise, makes mutual will with husband, 85.

Woman, not to be buried near a, 131;

first monument in United States to a, 213.

Woman Hater, a, 131.

Women, property rights of, 75-78.

Word, omission of important, 190.

Words, legal distinction between, in wills, 3.

“Working with a Will,” 220.

Wrapping-paper, a valid will on, 168.

Wyatt, Surgeon-Major, buried in full-dress uniform, 154;

no mourning to be used, 154, 155.

Wyndsore, Lady Alice, will of, 31;

provides for funeral and burial, 31;

gift to poor on day of her sepulture, 31;

for repairing highways, 31.

Young, Brigham, will of, 454.

Ysabeau of Scotland, Duke of Brittany, bequest for masses, 134.

Zabriskie, Sarah Titus, bequest to pet cat, 100.

Zalesky, M., eccentric will of, 182.

Zimmer, Nicholas, a valid will on a collar-box, 168.

“ITEM. To my Brother, Charles Washington, I give and bequeath the Gold