The evening times., 1899-06-13
Rare PAPERS IN qHE
REGISTERS OFFICE
The Wills of Six Presidents
on File.
Proofs Of the Poverty Of Monroe
and Jackson.
Flaw In the Letters Parliamentary
of Chief Justice Chaxe-Other
Documents.

"A TeCeHt SySleHldtIC luNeStlSdtiOu Vi tuC
records in the office of the District Regis
ter OF Wills by several Washington attor-
neys has brought to light numbsr Of in
teresting, valuable, and historical dOcu-
ments, including the last wills and testa-
ments of many men prominent in Govern
ment affairs OF the past.
Among the rare papers discovered and
examined with keen interest are the
originals or copies OF the wills executed
by six OF the Presidents OF the United
States - Washington, Madison, Monroe,
John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and
Franklin Pierce.
The only original document o. the list,
however, is that Of President Monroe. 1t
was made in New York, and would have
been probated in that State, except that
the only property Of the testator consisted
OF grant from Congress. This claim was
the single credit account mentioned in the
will with which the Presidents son-in-law.
Samuel L. Gouverneur, was to pay the
dead mans debts.
The will of "Old Hickory Andrew
Jackson, Senior" as he styles himself, also
indicates an INDECENT condition. The hero
of New Orleans was ruined. according to
his will, by the debts Of his well beloved
nephew and adopted son." Andrew Jack
son, Jr. Madison left his house in Wash
ington and other holdings OF realty to
Dolly Madison and her heirs. With the
exception Of Washington, Adams was the
wealthieSt of the six. Charles Francis
Adams was his executor. and, by the terms
of his fathers will, held in trust for Mary
Louisa Adams, granddaughter Of the tes-
tator. several houses on f street, store
and house on Pennsylvania avenue, an es-
tate known as Columbia Mills and
whole block in the northern part OF the
city.
only one Chief Justice filed letters testa-
mentary in the District-Salmol p. Chase.
Justice Chase's will is chiefly noteworthy
for the fact that although he intended to
devise all his real estate. the paper is wit
messed by only two persons, instead OF
three, as the law requires.
Caleb Swan, first paymasler general of
the army, made his will in 1867 and as
sort of preamble outlined his whole mill
tary history. Toward the close he asks
that his children may be taken care OF
by Phil b. Key, Francis S. Key, or DR..
John Weems, and effectually protected
against all and every sort of injustice and
oppression attempted or contemplated TO
be practiced upon or toward them by wick
ed and designing men and women, or any
individual of either OF the sexes"
Thomas Ritchie was an editor and pub
Usher OF much distinction in the first half
OF the century and an intimate friend OF
". W. Corcoran and DIR. John c. Hall,
both of whom witnessed his will. When
Mr.. Ritchies will was examined Gt was
dated June II 1854. and was probated
only a few months later il was found to
contain the following observations on ''Ex-
Pansion:"
We are already the greatest power among ~
tions. We destined to be greater still; but let
not be too ambitious Of inordinatc acquisitions
or too rapid in our advances. Let Us fill up the
immense territory which own. Let us not be
too anxious to step our foot from the mainland TO
the isiands< unless. indeed in the case OF Gu
la. we are threatened by the hari,arization of
that beautiful island and its oonversion into
black and hostile neighbOrhOod
As indicated by the records. the history
of the office of Register of Wills is full of
interest The office came into existence
with the creation of the District. In 1870
it was enacted that one of the judges of
the District Supreme Court should hold
special term for probate business, and
that enactment brought to close the ex-
istence of one of the queerest courts in the
country. 1t was the only court in the ma
ton which issued writs in the name OF the
United States. All other Federal tribunals
speak for the President of the United
States.
On one occasion the impersona1 form
peculiar to this bench was found very ap-
propriate. General Grant, then President,
came into the court in 1869 to take out let
tiers testamentary as executor of the will
of Gen. John A. Rawlins. Then. instead Of
having the President of the United
States" issue a writ to himself, 1.-The Unit
ed States" directed president Ulysses S.
Grant to properly and faithfully execute
the will. which was at the time being ad-
mitted to record 1t is said that his per-
sonal observation of the methods in use
prompted President Grant to approve the
act passed in the following year which did
away with the court altogether.