New-York tribune., 1921-11-01
Heirs Found to
$35O,OOO Left
By Mrs. Easton
Nephew and Two Nieccs
Are Recognized by Sur
rOgate as Relatives of
Aged Brooklyn Recluse
Crieved Long for Spouse
Refused TO Take Medicine
That Might Have Saved
Her Life, Says Physician

Heirs of Mrs Margaret Easten.
eighty-year-old recluse, who had re-
nlained immured in her home, 80 Put
nam Avenue, Brooklyn. since James M.
Easson, her husband, died in 1914, were
discovered yesterday. Mrs. Easton was
found dead early Sunday morning.
Papers of administration were grant
ed in Brooklyn Surrogate's Court to
Mrs. Lawrence Sweeney, Miss Isabelle
Mcdonald and Allan Mcdonald, living
at 161 West Kingsh~:1ge Road. lhe
Bronx, declaring themselves nieces and
nephew OF the wealthy old lady. They
told the court her estate would total
more than $S50,G00. Mrs. Sweeney said
her mother. Mrs. Mary Mcdonald, was
Mrs. Easton's sister-in-law.
The heirs were accompanied to
brooklyn by H. A. View, an attorney
OF 500 Broadway. The attou9ky said
Mrs. Easton's late husband waF at one
time secretary of the Mutual Life In
surance Company of New York The
Easton never had left her home since
Mr.: Easton's death six years ago. She
had closed the upper part of her home
and lived in the lower floor.
Refused to Make a Will
1t was revealed that the Eastons had
r daughter, Florence, who died in 1877,
and a younger child, who also died
Mementos of tho two were found
among Mrs. Easton's possessions when
the house was searched for will. No
trace of any document disposing of her
property could be found. She is said
to have told neighbors, in her window
conversations with them, that she would
make no will. intending to take all she
cared for with her.
DR.. j. S. Baldwin, who was the last
physician to call on Mrs. Easton, said
her refusal to take medicine, which
might have remedied her immediate
condition of ill-health, was con-
tributing cause of death. Dr. Baldwin
told Mrs. Easton's relatives that when
he called on her recently he informed
her that she was in critical state of
make will. She replied that she did
not, repeating ~ will take all care
for with me when l CO." Dr. Baldwin
said the last time Mrs. Easton crossed
her own threshold was the day she at
tended her husbands funeral
Mrs. Easton had lived for fifty-tw
years in the house where she died.
Home Bought in 162
The three-story frame house in
which Mrs. Eaton Gied was one of the
most pretentious dwellings if that
neighborhood during the late '70s and
early sos. Old residents say that
when Mr. and Mrs. Eaton bought it in
the autumn of 1862, just before their
marriage, it was painted white and had
green blinds. There was alsoa garden
surrounding the place and box hedge
ran along its front.
The room in which the old lady was
found dead, curled up as though sleep
ing, in wicker rocking chair is the
same room in which a ceremonious
breakfast was served for relatives anu
friends when she entered it after re-
turning from ner honeymoon in 1868.
There are three paintings in the old
house which Mrs. Eaton is said to have
told neighbors before her husbands s
death, had been purchased by him in
Florence, Italy, for large sum.
The late insurance man is said to
have passed part of his life in Flor
ence. His daughter, said by old resi-