Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
History
Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
“‘Finally, I direct that all my said heirs shall amicably divide my
heritage among themselves in the portions according as I have assigned
them, making of them a simple familiar description for their own
guidance. I also leave to all my servants for their natural lives; to
those in my service at the time of my death, and who have served me for
more than twenty-five years, the full monthly wages they received when I
was alive; to those who have served me for more than fifteen years I
leave two-thirds of their monthly wages; and to those who have served me
for less than ten years, one-third of their monthly wages. In the
enjoyment of this disposition, notwithstanding that it is unnecessary to
declare it, I intend that the two ecclesiastics who form part of my
household shall be comprised. I expressly prohibit that any of the
aforesaid shall, for whatsoever reason, effect mortgages upon the
property which constitutes my heritage or upon that of my heirs for the
purpose of securing any assignments I have left them, and I declare that
I have made the said assignments solely under the express condition that
they do not affect any such mortgage; and if any or all of them should
think fit to do so, then I declare that ipso facto they are excluded
from the prescription of the said assignment, which is none other than a
gratuitous liberality, and I give them instead one hundred scudi for
once only.
“‘G. Cardinale Antonelli.
“‘Rome, 18th January, 1871.’
* * * * *
“The small envelope enclosed with the above bears on the outside the
following inscription: ‘For my heirs.’ The contents, being taken out,
consisted of a small sheet of paper written evenly in the same
handwriting, on the first two pages throughout, and a part of the third,
and at bottom the date--Rome, 18th of January, 1871, and the signature,
‘G. Card. Antonelli.’ There are neither erasures nor marginal notes,
interlineations nor additions. The tenor of this little sheet is as
follows:
“‘My heirs are to pay the following legacies:
“‘To my good sister Rosalia, married Sanguigni, 5000 francs.
“‘To my niece Anna Sanguigni, married to Count Pocci, 5000 francs.
“‘To my niece Lucia Antonelli, 5000 francs.
“‘To my niece Teresa Antonelli, 5000 francs.
“‘To my niece Innocenza, married Bornana, the _bénitier_ with silver
bas-relief representing the Nativity, which stands near my bed.
“‘To my nephew Agostino, the watch which stands on the little table,
with the arms of the Holy Father, given me by His Holiness on occasion
of the Centenary of St. Peter.
“‘To my nephew Domenico, the other pocket-watch, with my arms.
“‘To my nephew Paolo, the watch, with gold chain, which I wear every
day, with my arms on one side and my cipher on the other.
“‘To my nephew Pietro, twelve silver _couverts_ of those which I use
daily.
“‘To my sister-in-law Mariana, one of my pair of great silver lamps,
whichever she chooses. The other I leave to my sister-in-law Peppina.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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