Since these essays were written Mr. Virgil M. Harris, of St. Louis, Missouri, has published at Boston, U.S.A., a large collection of wills under the title, “Ancient, Curious, and Famous Wills,” a work, however, distinct in scope and style from the present book.
Scattered about these pages are instances of wills, &c., gathered from newspapers from time to time. This source, also, is gratefully recognised. Lastly, I have to express my thanks to Mr. Fincham, of Somerset House, for affording me facilities to introduce two or three excellent illustrations of my theme.
Other references are mentioned in the text. If any work to which I am indebted in any respect has not been acknowledged, I trust I may be accorded a ready pardon.
CHAPTER PAGE PREFACE 7 I. THE ROMANCE OF WILLS 13 II. WILLS NOT FULFILLED 59 III. DR. JOHNSON’S WILL 69 IV. DEATH-BED DISPOSITIONS 82 V. WILLS BY WORD OF MOUTH 93 VI. THE POLYCODICILLIC WILL 106 VII. EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY PIETY 113 VIII. THE DEAD HAND 123 IX. WILLS OF FANCY AND OF FANTASY 134 X. STRIFE 148 XI. LOVE AND GRATITUDE 159 XII. THE SERVANT PROBLEM 169 XIII. ANIMALS AND PETS 178 XIV. THE WAY OF ALL FLESH 187 XV. BURIALS AND FUNERALS 197 XVI. WILLS AND GHOSTS 230
“The older I grow,” Mr. E. V. Lucas has said, “the less, I find, do I want to read about anything but human beings.... But human beings, as human beings, are not enough; they must, to interest me, have qualities of simplicity or candour or quaintness.”
The words of the writer are peculiarly apt to describe the charm of wills. But the older we grow, the more do men and women, by reason only of their humanity, absorb our interest. In wills human nature is most vividly and variously displayed. In wills the dead speak, and in a manner live again. The poor and the rich, men learned and men illiterate, all alike have made interesting wills. In some cases humour and pathos are more unconscious, in others opportunity for effect is greater; but in wills of every class, and of every age or form, there is much worthy of remark.
Historically they are invaluable records. In them are reflected all social, political, and religious revolutions. By them the history of families or places is preserved and illuminated. As long ago as the sixteenth century John Stow realised their value, and often referred to them in his “Survey of London.” No local record to-day would be complete without the wills of its worthies.