The famous rhyming will
In 1830 Mr. Wheatstone, a solicitor of Chancery Lane died and left the following will, which was admitted to probate:
As far as I can tell, this is the first time anyone ever used this rhyming will, but it definitely wasn't the last. It caught on, and many other people subsequently used the exact same poem as their final will (slightly updating the language to make it more modern). It continued to be used at least up until the 1950s. I'm not sure if anyone has used it since then.
| As to all my worldly goods now or to be in store, I give to my beloved wife and her's, for evermore; I give all freely! — I no limit fix! This is my Will, and she's Executrix. |
As far as I can tell, this is the first time anyone ever used this rhyming will, but it definitely wasn't the last. It caught on, and many other people subsequently used the exact same poem as their final will (slightly updating the language to make it more modern). It continued to be used at least up until the 1950s. I'm not sure if anyone has used it since then.
The London Observer - Apr 18, 1830
The New Bloomfield, Pa Times - Sep 27, 1870
Altoona Tribune - Nov 16, 1912
Battle Creek Enquirer - Mar 3, 1928
The Greenwood Index-Journal - Oct 16, 1950
The Louisville Courier-Journal - Aug 6, 1954
Comments
Who thought that legalese could be short and to the point?
Posted by KDP on 02/20/17 at 09:24 AM
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Category: Death