AN ODD WILL.
An Irishman named Dennis Tolarn, who died at Cork possessed of considerable wealth, in the year 1769, left a singular will, containing the following testamentary dispositions : —" I leave to my sister-in-law four old stockings, which will be found under my mattrass on the right, Item : To my nephew, Michael Trales, two odd socks and a green nightcap. Item : To Lieutenant John Stein, a blue stocking with my red cloak. Item : To my cousin, Barbara Dolan, an old boot with a red flannel pocket. Item : To Hannah, my housekeeper, my broken water-jug." At the death of the testator, the legatees having been convened by the notary to be present at the reading of the will, each, as he or she was named, shrugged their shoulders and otherwise expressed a contemptuous disappointment, while parties uninterested in the succession could not refrain from laughing at these ridiculous, not to say insulting, legacies. All were leaving the room, after signifying their intention of of renouncing their bequests, whon the last named, Hannah, having tesified her indignation by kicking away the broken pitcher, a number of coins rolled ont. The other individuals, astonished at the unexpected incident, began to think better of their determination, and requested permission to examine the articles devised to them. It is needless to say that on proceeding to the search, the stockings, socks, pocket, &c, scon betrayed by their weight the value of their contents, and tlie bequests of the testator, thus fairly distributed, left on the minds of the legatees a very different impression of his worth.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740410.2.18
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1166, 10 April 1874, Page 3
Word count
Tapeke kupu
261AN ODD WILL. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1166, 10 April 1874, Page 3
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.