Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
History
Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
Not long ago, a wealthy gentleman on Long Island died, who provided that
none of his heirs should inherit, unless they could show that they had
led a life of angelic virtue. Among the conditions mentioned, were
these: That they should not smoke or drink; that they should rise every
morning and breakfast at a certain hour; that they should be in the
house every evening at a certain hour; that they should be industrious
and strictly moral; that they should never enter a barroom, and should
not get married before the age of twenty-five. It is stated that the
heirs were practically disinherited, all but one having failed to live
up to the conditions.
BARE ARMS IMMODEST
A rector of a Yorkshire parish, who died in 1804, left a considerable
property to his only daughter under the following conditions:
1st. That she should not marry unless with the consent of his two
executors, and
2d. That she should dress with greater propriety than theretofore.
This clause was worded thus: “Seeing that my daughter Anna has not
availed herself of my advice touching the objectionable practice of
going about with her arms bare up to the elbows, my will is that, should
she continue after my death in this violation of the modesty of her sex,
all the goods, chattels, moneys, land, and other property that I have
devised to her for the maintenance of her future life shall pass to the
oldest of the sons of my sister Caroline. Should anyone take exception
to this my wish as being too severe, I answer that license in dress in a
woman is a mark of a depraved mind.”
A FANATICAL BAPTIST MINISTER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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