On Wills ton made elaborate provisions to liber ate all his slaves on his wife's death. He explains that:
"To emancipate them
during her life, would, though earnestly wished by me, be attended with such
insuperable difficulties on account of their intermixture by marriage with the dower negroes, as to excite the most painful sensations if not disagreeable
consequences from the latter, while both descriptions are in occupancy of the same
proprietor; it not being in my power, under the tenure by which the dower negroes are held, to manumit them."
In like manner, John Randolph — “Ran dolph of Roanoke" — gave all his slaves
their freedom, “heartily regretting that I have ever been the holder of one," and provided a sum not exceeding $8,000 “to
transport and settle said slaves to and in some other state or territory of the United
States giving to all above the age of forty not less than ten acres of land to each." Having made several codicils to his will, Randolph added a final one: As lawyers and courts of law are extremely addicted to making wills for dead men, which they never made when living, it is my will and desire that no person who shall set aside, or
575
ously wrought in the form of the cap of Liberty" to his "friend and the friend of mankind, George Washington." He
left £100 to the free schools of Boston, from which fund the well known Frank lin medals are given to scholars of the High and Latin schools. :6 1,000 each to Boston and Philadelphia to help
young married artificers under the age of twenty-five. It was this fund which has figured in repeated litigation in the courts of Pennsylvania and Mass achusetts. Alexander Hamilton drew his will fearful that his estate would prove in sufiicient to discharge his debts, and entreated his children to make good any deficiency. Though conscious that I have too far sacri ficed the interests of my family to public avoca tions, and on this account have the less claim to burthen my children, yet I trust in their magna nimity to appreciate as they ought, this my request.
Paul Revere cut off his grandson Frank “who now writes his name Francis" with one dollar. John Sherman, whose name has been
lately so often in the mouths of the pub
attempt to set aside, the will above referred to,
lic as the author of the Anti-trust Law, shall ever inherit, possess, or enjoy any part of my estate, real or personal.
directed that ‘within two years of his death, his books and papers were to be
Thomas Jefi‘erson and Robert E. Lee also provided for the manumission of their slaves. Chief Justice Marshall, after directing the freeing of his body servant, provided that "if such emanci pation should not be consistent with law,
Robin might select his future owner from the testator’s sons and daughters.”
Benjamin Franklin begins his will with an elaborate introduction of himself as “printer, late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the
placed in the hands of some competent person who should “preface and publish an impartial biography of me with selec tions of my speeches and writings." Ten
thousand dollars was set aside for that purpose and the testator explains that this is done "not to secure a eulogy for I am conscious of many faults, but I claim that in my duty to the public, I have been honest, faithful and true."
Martin Van Buren begins a will full of domestic afi'airs, yet carefully con
Court of France, now President of Penn
ceived and well drawn, by explaining
sylvania," tree walking andstick, bequeathed with gold his "fine head crab curi
that he has been “heretofore Governor of the State and more recently President
