Thibodaux minerva., 1853-10-01
An Interesting Relic.

An Interesting Relic.
We were much gratifed in exami9g q day OF
two since, the last will and testament Of Fred
erick William Baron de Steubens
The renowned military man was extremely
eccentric in his private life, and his will contains
some singular provisoes. His property at the
time of his death could not have been equal to
what he possessed in Germany before he came
to America, Having been aid-de-campto to Fred
erick the Great and Lieut. General in the Prus-
sian army, his knowledge Of military tactics was
extensive, and of immense benefit to the Ameri-
cen army at the time he made tender of his
services. H
He emigrated to thisscountry under ansas-
sumed name, having been pursuaded to the step
by his friends in France at the time the French
we're secretly aiding the Americans, bringing
letters of introduction from Dr. Franklin to Gen.
Washington and the President of Congress. He
first addressed himself tosWashington, request
ing admission into the service. Aportion Of
this letter, which we find in Frost's American
Generals, is highly complimentary.
81 could say, moreover, were it not for fear
of offending your modesty, that your Excellency
is the only person under whom, after serving
under the King Of PrussiayI could wish to pur-
sue an art to which have wholly given up mys
self" Washington referred him to Congress,
aud in laying Ms papers a(ere that body, he
stated what he had left, to Engage in the Ameri-
can service, and made An ofersof his servises
without any other remgnefation than his expen-
ses, except that in casstbe Americans should
gain their independance, Ewould expect an in
demnity for the Office he had resigned in Eu-
rope and proportionate reward for his SER
vices. SO
-. Notwithstanding his great exertion during
the whole war, and the immense valIS Of his
services to the American armysn was seven
years after peace. was declared before Congress
took any notice Of hissclaims. He had left af-
flueuce and .baronial dignity among the mon;
archs of Europe to waste His life in our Struggle,
and now when the great object had bsaIisieach-
ed, he was poor, homeless and unpr0vided for.
Through the exertonss of Washington and
Hamilton, Congress acknowledged Ms claims
and made him grant of $500 anaually. sAnd
the New York Assemblysfeted him l6s 900 acres
of land l. upon this land he built 0SM log
house and lived there until his dead gith a
few male domestics with no companion but his
aids Walker and North, to whom he left most OF
his property. His will reads: *A>sI.
Sufficient reasons having Determined me to
exclude mysrelatives in EulDpesf f6m .iny par
ticipation in my estatein America. and to adopt
my friends and aid-de-camps Benjamin Walker
and William North as my children, and make
them sole devisees of all my estate therein, ex-
cept such as shall be hereinafterwafd otherwise
disposed Of. a
@.sI bequeath to Benjamin Walker the sum Of
three thousand dollars, and my gold -hilted sword
given me by Conerees To VIM. North my sill
ver-hilted sword, and the gold box given me by
the city of New York. To JohnJ. Mulligan /
give ami bequeath the whole Of my library,
maps and charts, and 25 hundred dollars TO COM
plete it. To each of my servants living with
me at the time of my desease, one years wages,
and to my yalet de chambre all wearing ap-
parel.
"But do hereby declare that these legacies
to my servants are ON the following conditions,
that on my desease they do not permit any per-
son to touch my body or eyensto change the
shirt in which Idle, but that they wrap me in
my military CLOAK and in twenty four hours
after my desease, bury me in such spot as |
shall before my disease, point out to them, and
that they never acquaint any person with the
place where shall be buried.
g give and bequeath the rest of my estate,
real and personal, to Benjamin Walker and VIM.
North, and do hereby make them my executors.
Signed, New York, Feb. IL, 1894.
:. He died, Nov. a Of the same year, and we
copy from Judge Jones' history of Oneida county,
description Of his burial place.
In his will, the Baron provided that his body
6e buried in the place designated, but after his
death it could not be ascsrtained that he had to
any friend designated the place. The only re-
mark that could be recollected that had any
bearing upon the subject was that he was once
heard to say, that under certain, hemlock
North Of his residence, would be q good place
y Be buried, without however expressing any
wish rs To his remains
ln the ahsence Of any other sexpress wish,
that place was selected, and bis remains there
Inferred. A few years after road was laid out,
@ that the grave was included withiff its limits
The improperly Of such state Of things in
dueed Col. Walker, Of Utica wlso Vas one Of tbe
Mron's aids in theareyolutioh, anfwha was one
~ his executors and principal lntses, 10 re-
nove the remains 10 more sdltnble resting
Place. ~
u. The !. place sss,s selected ,a.,.: was i ,s
~ the vicinity lease Of fifty acres Of land, Of
which the FIVE 1sres Of woodlandswas part.
The only rent andconsideration to be paid is the
Keeping, said1nve acres substantilly fenced for
ever, and no cattlesar other animals,suffered to
g within its bounds, and lhe title tofail when
sssr the lessees shall fsilin the performance st
ne stipdlati0ns. ~
Up to the present tire hesociety has sacred-
kept its trust, the forest having the mosi
rineval appearance, land the little tiny saplings
we'll rs the largest beech and naples bear the
inpress, that here man nor beast has trespAssed.
The monument erected Nv Inscription, when
Ne "nation's guest" LsfA lste visited this
scuntrysis becoming dilspidsted, ami for the
honor OF the town and county, it q hoped thai
twill be shortly repaired. The tablet is abosl
sven feet by four, and nearly fodein thie4
ness Of the purest limestone. Ind ktpt ia pAee,,
W Withstand the rayages Of certuries.-U Ua'cd
GRAxD LODGE OF THE U. SrArEs.-The Grand
Lodge Of the U. s. I. O. @. f. closed its annual
ssssion on the evening Of the 10th ult., after
1e tsansaction Of perhapsless the usual amount
/ bdainess The body decided that af5er q
REPRESENTATIVE has taken his seat in the G. L. d.
the subordinate Grand Lodge cannot unseat
nln--sach was the decision in the Indiana case
resolution 70 return 10 the three month
4 - received but half = dozen votes = its IA
A motion to abolish tie Degree ofRebec-
4 net with not much favor. N
k!opodtions were made to hold tle session 81
- "a New York, Louisville, ana 0lher places.
~. rsre ~ laid upon the tabs 81 very. a.
~. 49, vote The Grand Lodge of thu United
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