Ancient, Curious, and Famous WillsHarris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
History
Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills
Harris, Virgil M. (Virgil McClure)
Wills
Testators in the present day frequently and ungallantly leave property
to their widows only so long as they shall remain unmarried. In looking
through some of the wills of the time of Henry VII., we do not find such
a condition attached. There are many instances to be found, however, of
the husband’s affectionate care for the future comfort of his wife. To
quote two or three: First, from the will of William Parker: “Also I make
Master John Aggecombe, Alderman of Oxford, my overseer, to se my last
will performed; and I geve to hym for his labour my best crymsyn gowne
so that he be frendly to Alice my wife.” In the will of Robert Offe, of
Boston, Lincolnshire, after appointing Master Thomas Robynson and Master
John Robynson overseers, he goes on to say: “And I beseche you, maisters
both, that ye be good frends unto my wyf, and that ye will help her.”
William Holybrande, gentleman citizen and “tailler” of London, bequeaths
to each of his executors, William Bodley and William Grove, for their
labor, £5 sterling, and “to be goode and kynde to my wyfe.” He appoints
as overseer, “Robert Joyns, my cousin, one of the gentleman ushers of
the chambre of our Sovaigne Lorde the Kynge,” and bequeaths to him £5
sterling “for his labour, and that he may help my wyfe in all her
troubill, if any shall happen to her here after.” He also gives and
bequeaths “to Roger Delle, my servant, so that he be lovyng and gentill
to my wyfe, and give a trewe accompte for such besynese as he hath
reconyng of, £5 sterlinge.” These three wills were all proved in 1505.
WOULD NOT BE GOOD
In 1772, a gentleman of Surrey, England, died, and his will being opened
was found to contain this peculiar clause, “Whereas, it was my
misfortune to be made very uneasy by ----, my wife, for many years from
our marriage, by her turbulent behavior, for she was not content to
despise my admonitions, but she contrived every method to make me
unhappy; she was so perverse in her nature that she would not be
reclaimed, but seemed only to be born to be a plague to me; the strength
of Samson, the knowledge of Homer, the prudence of Augustus, the cunning
of Pyrrhus, the patience of Job, the subtlety of Hannibal and the
watchfulness of Hermogenes could not have been sufficient to subdue her;
for no skill or force in the world would make her good; and as we have
lived separate and apart from each other for eight years, and, she
having perverted her son to leave and totally abandon me, therefore, I
give her a shilling.”
MUST REMAIN AT HOME
The last will and testament of Lawrence Engler was admitted to probate
September 19, 1910, at Columbus, Ohio. It disposes of an estate valued
at $10,000. He was killed in a recent wreck on the Hocking Valley
Railroad near Toledo.
He provides in his will that his widow and their children be given the
proceeds resulting from the rent of his property and that they all must
remain at home. When they leave, they forfeit all rights to the income.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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