Cork - Will of an Irish Miser

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Cork Index
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File contributed by:  Mary Heaphy tipwex at eircom.net

WILL OF AN IRISH MISER.

An Irishman named Dennis TOLAM, 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 mattress, to the right. 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."

After 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 renouncing their bequests, when the last named, 
Hannah, having testified her indignation by kicking away the 
broken pitcher, a number of coins rolled out of it; the 
other individuals, astonished at the unexpected incident, 
began to think better of their determination, and requested 
permission to examine the articles given to them. It is 
needless to say that, on proceeding to search, the 
stockings, socks, pocket, etc., soon betrayed by their 
weight the value of their contents: and the hoard of the 
testator, thus fairly distributed, left on the minds of the 
legatees a very different impression of his worth.

Source: Ancient, Curious and Famous Wills