Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
History
Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
“2d. Second: I give devise and bequeath to my wife Lucy Audubon and to
my two sons Victor Gifford Audubon and John Woodhouse Audubon all my
real and personal property of whatever nature or kind soever excepting
my household furniture articles of silver and silver plate share and
share alike.
“3rd. Thirdly: I give, devise and bequeath to my wife all my household
furniture articles of silver and silver plate.
“Lastly. I nominate, constitute and appoint my said two sons Executors
and my wife Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking
and annulling all other and former Wills by me made.
“In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal
this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty one.
“JOHN JAMES AUDUBON.”
WILL OF PHINEAS TAYLOR BARNUM
Phineas Taylor Barnum died April 7, 1891. The Probate Court of
Bridgeport, Connecticut, will, on request, furnish you with a copy of
his will; it would seem that printer’s ink is used by Barnum’s
executors, following the testator’s example, for the will is in the
shape of a booklet containing fifty-three pages, and is the most lengthy
testamentary document which has come under our observation. The legacies
and gifts under it exceed one hundred and fifty in number and several
million dollars in amount. Then are added to the will, eight codicils of
unusual length and of great particularity. The will itself is dated the
30th day of January, 1882, the last codicil, the year in which he died,
1891.
By the will, the testator gives an annuity of $9000 to his wife, Nancy,
together with the use of certain personal property; there is also given
her, the use for life of his residence, “Waldemere,” which was a villa
in imitation of the Brighton Pavilion. He says: “I love the pleasant
city of my adoption (Bridgeport), and ardently hope for its moral and
material improvement; a large share of my income, during my residence
here of nearly forty years, has been devoted to its public and private
charities, and to improving and developing its parks, avenues, and its
waste places, erecting houses, factories, &c. Having thus preferred to
see my money used here, under my own eyes, rather than to leave it to be
used by others.” There is an annuity of $1500 given a daughter, Helen,
during her natural life, subject to certain legacies and annuities; the
residue of his estate is placed in the hands of trustees to be divided
equally between a daughter, Caroline C. Thompson, the children of a
deceased daughter, Pauline T. Seeley, and the children of a daughter,
Helen M. Buchtel. The old family Bible, the bust of Jenny Lind, and the
contract with Jenny Lind, are given to his daughter, Caroline: seven
gifts of books are made to publishers, “as a faint recognition of the
Public Press, to which I am so much indebted.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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