Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-03
WIN. THAW'S WILL.
After Distributing Several Millions
He Formed a Coke Trust.
HIS CHILDREN SHARE EQUALLY.
Legacies Given and Hundreds of Thousands
of Dollars Devoted to
EDUCATION, RELIGION AND CHARITY

Thaw was admitted to probate by Register
Connors, and letters testamentary issued to
the widow, Mary Copley Thaw, and three
sons-William Thaw, Jr., Benjamin Thaw,
Alexandria Blair Thaw-and his son-in-law,
W. R. Thompson. The will is dated July
5, 1889, and William jackson, T. 81. b.
Mcknight and Robert +. Reed are Wit
nesses. 1t covers So pages legal cap, type
written. The material portions are:
To the executors, their survivors and duly
appointed successors. all the testator's estate,
except coal and coal lands otherwise disposed
of in trust that they shall execute the pro-
visions of the will.
With these exceptions the estate is to be
inventoried and appraised by said executors
and then divided into l6 shares of equal value,
certain shares to be increased or diminished
according 10 certain contingencies. The
teStator says that as creditors will not probably
need the information, and others interested
can get it from the executors, the inventory
and appraisement shall not be filed with the
Register of Wills unless said action be legally
necessary.
Immediately after probate the executors are
directed to pay to Mary Copely Thaw, testator's
widow, $40 O0O in cash, in addition to any other
provision made for her, out of and chargeable
to three equal shares, excepting coal and coal
lands, and subsequently, called supply parts
MRS. THAw PROVIDED PoR.
Testator directs that of the l6 equal parts
named three shall he conveyed to the widow,
provided she survive testator 80 days next en-
SUNG after the admission of the will to probate.
This provision was intended to enable her to
make testamentary disposition in case she died
before testator or within so days of probate the
three equal parts or shares of my estate to be
allotted or set apart to my children, and the in
creased number of equal parts or shares of my
estate so allotted or set apart to my children
Shall be fairly divided into as many equal parts
as there are children of mine surviving me, ir-
respective of their maternal descent and in
cluding as one such the lawful issue of any
deceased child; and the said executors, or tTus-
tees from time TO time acting, shall carry out
and perform concerning such enlarged equal
parts the directions and provisions hereinafter
contained, relative to the equal parts or shares
of my estate to be allotted or set apart to my
children" At the end of that period, if she
survive the property vests in her absolutely.
OF all the Is eqdal parts 10 are allotted to
testaUor's children. Eliza. widow of George B.
Edwards; William Mary wife of William r.
Thompson; Benjamin and Alexander Blair,
five children of testator's deceased wife, Eliza
Burd Blair and Henry Kendall Edward, Josiah
Copley, Margaret and Alice Cornella, the five
children of testator's wife, Mary Copley; but
these parts are held in trust by the executors.
The three remaining shares, styled supply
parts" are devoted to the payment of alllawful
debts, taxes. commissions. expenses, etc., Incl
dent to the execution of the will, gifts be-
quests, annuites, etc, and if any residue to be
disposed of as subsequently directed.
Gifts. beQuests, etc, are directed to reach
recipients without dimInution by reason of any
cause whatsoever, and wife and children are
similarly protected, all charges to be paid from
tors death, after which all except annuities
shall bear their own lawful expense.
HOW TO DIVIDE VALUES.
The executors are empowered to designate
items of the estate which at their appraised
value shall constitute each one of all the 16
equal shares, appraisers to be appointed by
the executors, or trustees then acting seals ac-
knowledged and writings acknowledged and re-
corded. if necessary, or expedient
The property on Fifth street testator's home
stead for Sc years. contents, appurtenances,
including stable, horses, vehicles. plate, Jew-
elry, etc, lot and cottage at Cresson, exclud-
ing cash stocks, bonds or shares in action that
may be therein, in Anegheny Cemetery. al
valuation form part of the property allotted to
the shares of children. minors at testator's de-
cease except that his widow is requested to en-
Joy them for life without charge
1t is directed that testator's lot IN the Ale
gheny Cemetery shall be free for burial pur.
posesdo all his immediate family and descend
ants He directs that his other lot be resold to
the Allegheny Cemetery at cost and interest for
roadway purposes, and unless they see good
reason TO The contrary the executors are to as
and his Smlthheld street property, Nos l02
l04. l06 and los to the shares of his children
Provision is made that il there be increase of
lawful issue after date of will such issue shall
be taken care of by reapportionment The
same provision is made in case of death of any
of the heirs, by which the size of the shares are
increased. But the whole number of shares
shall in no event be less than p my purpose
being that not less than one-half of nv estate
shall go to my children, even should a less
number than six of them survive me- includinp
one such the lawful issue of each deceased
child; in which case the said half being y
equal parts or shares, shall be fairly divided
into as many equal portions as there are chill
dren surviving me, and with reference to said
equal portions of said half said executors shall
perform and carry out all the provisions and
directions in this will set forth affecting the
equal parts or shares to be allotted to or set
apart for my children"
AS JOINT PROPERTY.
The shares of the minor children are To no
managed as joint property during their minor
Ity, The heirs who are of age are to be paid
at once one half their property, and the minors
as they reach their majority one-fourth of
their share allotted, the remainder to be man.
aged by trustees appointed by the executors.
and it is provided that these heirs cannot en-
cumber, assign, convey or anticipate, the pro-
visions being applicable to the lawful issue of
any deceased child, who shall take the place of
the deceased. Should any child die without
issue his share is tC be equally divided among
the remainder, irrespective of maternal de.
scent
1t is willed that the executors. survivors or
successors snail continue to act SO long as any
act of administration is necessary The execn |
tors are empowered to associate with them
selves as trustees or as guardians suitable per.
sons, but such shall not become guardians nm
less to NIL vacancies in the number of execu-
tors for which the Will makes provision The
number of executors and the number of trus-
tees of the shares allotted to the minor chill
dren shall not at any time be less than three.
whenever trustee or trustees shall be re-.
Quired under the provisions of this will for
whose appointment direction is not otherwise
given, such trustee or trustees shall be
appointed by the executors of my will
Gas distinguished from the senarate trns
tees appointed to hold the resnectiv
parts of shares in trust for nv cbildren) and |
/ authorize and empower said executors or the
trustees from time to time acting when said |
separate trustees are required to annoint orc /
or more such separate trustees at their discre- |
tion in each instance when such Separate trns- |
tee or trustees shall be required such appoint |
ment to be made by writing under their hands |
and seals duly acknowledged and recorded
After explicit directions as to the mower or /
the executors to manage the estate of the |
minor children, the testator proceeds to give |
direction for the defining of clfts. navments
annuities etc. he executors are directed ~ /
securely invest fund sufficient TO nrodnce on 1
annual income of Sl,9OO, to be paid in ouarterIv |
iustallments for life. to Cousin Harriet A.
Thaw, S2G0 Rev. Daniel H. Riddle S500. niece |
Jane Ross, $500 At the death of the apnui.
tants the fund becomes part of the residue of |
the supply parts"
The will directs that should the following
named persons, corporations or organizations
survive testatoTs, the executors are TO nav
them the sums written after their names
NUMEROUS REQUESTS.
Nephew John I. Denniston, $1,000: Charles n
Lyon and J. Denniston Lyon sons of NV niece
a. Elf1a n TvOn fnO,v Mre