Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-11-17
The Divided
Inheritance,

In colonial times the family
Bible was often the most import
ant article in the household. The
| Archards, an aristocratic fam
lily of Maryland, possessed very
large family Bible that had been
| brought from England in 1860
and had since descended from
father to son. When the Revo-
luton came Colonel Robert Ar
Ichard adhered to the cause of the
king, influencing two of his sons
to do the same. His youngest
son, Carroll Archard. joined the
rebels" and was banished by his
father. Carroll married Martha
Curtis, the sister of brother in
the Revolutionary army. Carroll
was killed at the battle of Mon
mouth, leaving his wife to strug-
gle for the support of their
infant son.
Not long after the colonies had
achieved their independence Col.
Archard died. He was a strange
man. and it was expected that
his will would contain some
singular provisions. The ex-
pectation was fulfilled. He divid-
ed his property into two parts of
about equal value, giving his
oldest son, Robert, first choice.
A third bequest was the family
Bible, which was left to the
widow and little son of Carroll
| Archard in case neither Of his
sons preferred to take the book,
relinquishing his share to Martha
and little Carroll.
When the will was read Robert
Archard, after thoroughly in
vestigating the value of the two
portions, selected that which he
considered most desirable.
Robert Archard,' said the
family lawyer, who had drawn
will, your father charged me
to ask you if you would relinqlfsh
your share to Martha Archard
and her son, taking the family
Bible instead"
I will not" said Robert.
The lawyer then told James
Archard that it was optional
with him to take the Bible.
James showed no greater dis
position to give up his inheri-
lance than his brother had shown.
Before handing oyer the two
portions of the estate to the
brothers the attorney addressed
them: L was in your fathers
confidence when he made this
will. He told me of the existence
of Mrs. Archard and her son and
was undecided what to do for
them in bequeathing his property.
He determined to leave all to his
two sons; with a request they
should find Mrs. Arohard and
little Carroll and provide for them.
Il told my client that in my
long experience in such mattors
I had never known a legatee to
part with any portion of his in
heritance through an instruction
which was not obligatory by the
will. | advised him that if he
wished to provide for his son
lCarroll's family to de SO by leav-
| ing a portion of his property
directly to them. Colonel Ar
chard declared that he had per-
| feet confidence in the generosity
of his sons and that they would
carry out any request he might
make of them, Nevertheless he
took the matter under adviSement.
A few days later he sent for me
and instructed me to draw this
will, enjoining upon the duty OF
making his intentions perfectly
plain to his heirs. He desired to
l1eave either or both of his sons
free to accept mis- brothers widow
and son."
Our BROTHER" said Robert,
Twas traitor, and | see no rea-
son why ! should give my prop
erty to his widow and son.
II concur with Robert IN this
matter" said James.
Then sign the papers, receipt
ling for your portions said the
lawyer.
| When the signatures were
|affixed the lawyer handed the
brothers the deeds to their por-
|tions and locked the receipts in
his box. Then, turning to the
widow, he handed her the Bible.
j II am at least pleased she
|said, that my husbands father
I..1 ...y roosr rro~dfafhar has