Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-01-07
From the Boston Traveller, .Deeem 4:r. n
An Extraordinary will.
PosTEUmous UNKlNDNEss OF 4 MILLIoNAInr

1 g q - 8
PosTHUMoUs UNKlNDNEss OF A MILLIONAIRE.
In another column we give enlire, from
the copy offered for probate in the court for
| this county, the last will and testament Of
| Augustus ThorndIke, ofthis city, who died at
the fremont House, a month or two since
| leaving an estate; real and personal, Of
| about half million dollars. Ii has before
been briefly stated that iaughter of de-
| ceased. offended her father by marrying
against his will, she being at the time twen-
ty-seven years Of age. Il is stated that the
| father reached the place of marriage of his
daughter few minutes after the ceremony
had been performed, but, finding that ne
was too late, he lett the house, and ever
since has eVinced his hostility 10 this daugh-
ter, repusing her from the. bedside on the
occasion OF his late sickness. This WILL.
WHICH is of great length and in, the hand
writing Of the deceased, is one oflhe most
remarkable documents. of the kind ever
drawn up. The deliberate design. exhibited
in every page, and nd.allnost every paragraph
10 cut off his child from any participation in
his accumulated wealth, because she had, at
full age, obeyed the dictates of her heart in .
the choice Of her companion for life, is sad
to contemplate. Il is absolutely terrifying
to observe the careful malignily with which
Throughout the document. he provides for
the carrying ont of his almost demoniacal
purpose. The mother is forbidden to give
aid TO the child OF her love; the brothers
and sisters are debarred from the exercise
OF their. fraternal affection; all who are
named ia. the will are subject to the same
penalties. Old Harvard has . donation Of
$4,000, for Professorship of Music, but
with like provisions il d copper should go to
aid the prescribed couple or their children.
A pittance of $4oo per annum, tossaxe the
law, is alone aW arded TO the discarded ones.
His wife is literally provided for, but only
on condition that she remains a. widow.
pew is left for her in Trinity Church. but
with liberty 10 sell it and purchase in any
other church, if she may desire il. On that
point liberaiity is apparent not manitestin
other portions OF the will. ae .-.s-
The wife OF the deceased is now absent
from the country. She is, however, upon
her return from Europe, and upon her arrival
the question of probate will be decided. II
admitted, an appeal may be taken to jury
of the Supreme Court on The question OF
the sanity Oi the testatur. III Will be seen
that he has provided in the present will for
the contingency Of lis rejection, he having
deposited number of other wills in the
Probate Office to be offered one by one ac-
cordng to date until one is accepted. The |
will now offered for probate is but two
months old, and was prepared only about a
month previous to the death OF the testator. |
1t may be without impropriety added, that
the husband of the offending daughter is |
described by one OF the executors named in
the will as person of the most excellent
character, who holds a high position in.the
community. They have several children.
It appears that son. Dir. J. Stewart |
Thorndike. of New York, has also offended |
his father by contracting marriage With
out his consent, but in that case the father
contents himself with cutting off, as far as
possible, the relations of his sons wife from
any participation in the division of the prop |
erty. Mr.. Augustus Thorndike Perkins,
o. Boston. grandson of the late Col
Thomas H. Perkins. receives legacy of
$4,000, and also, on certain conditions.
another legacy Of $4,000. with the under
standing that he should take the surname of
Thorndike instead of Perkins. He is also
one of the executors.