82 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[Aug. 4. 1855. 



This, written with my own hand, there can be no appeal, 

 1 now therefore at once set my hand and my seal, 

 As being my last will ; I to this fully agree. 

 This eighteenth day of March, eighteen hundred and 

 three." 



Mr. Ruffell was a gentleman of an ancient and 

 highly respectable family. It is well known in 

 the neighbourhood where he resided that he gave 

 various friends copies of his will. One of his re- 

 latives, however, informs me that the original was 

 not found after his decease. Possibly, on reflec- 

 tion, he was induced to destroy it on the sup- 

 position that he had expressed himself a little too 

 harshly respecting his brother-in-law, and, more- 

 over, beeri somewhat too caustic in his remarks 

 on the legal profession. The legacy to his " lov- 

 ing, kind sister " was such a one as few ladies 

 would feel inclined to accept. The late Mr. Ezra 

 Dalton, who succeeded to the testator's landed 

 property, &c., was well known to the writer of 

 this ; he was a good specimen of an old-fashioned 

 gentleman farmer. It is obvious that Mr. Ruffell 

 venerated the memory of his father, by desiring 

 to be interred near him. This feeling, which 

 denotes strong filial affection, appears to have 

 prevailed generally from a very early period. 

 Thus we find the patriarch Jacolj exclaiming at 

 the close of his life, " Lay me in the grave of my 

 fathers." 



The following is a copy of the will of the late 

 Mr. Joshua West, of the Six Clerks' Office, 

 Chancery Lane, dated December 13, 1804 : 



" Perhaps I died not worth a groat ; 



But should I die worth something more, 

 Then 1 give that, and mj' best coat, 

 And all my manuscripts in store. 

 To those who shall the goodness have 



To cause my poor remains to rest 

 Within a decent shell and grave. 

 This is the will of Joshua West. 



" Joshua West. 

 "Witnessed R. Mills. 



J. A. Berry. 

 JouN Baines." 



Mr. West died possessed of property, and some 

 valuable manuscripts, which were conveyed by the 

 above will. 



Curious Testamentary Paper of a North Essex 

 Labourer, — 



" The Will of James Bigshy of Manningtree. 



" As I feel very queer my will I now make ; 

 Write it down, Joseph Finch, and make no mistake. 

 I wish to leave all things fair and right, do you see, 

 And my relatives satisfjr. Now, listen to me. 

 The first in my will is Lydia my wife, 

 Who to me proved a comfort three years of my life ; 

 The second my poor aged mother I say. 

 With whom I have quarrelled on many a day, 

 For which I've been sorry, and also am still ; 

 I wish to give her a place in my will. 

 The third that I mention is my dear little child ; 

 When I think of her, Joseph, 1 feel almost wild. 

 No. 301,] 



Uncle Sam Bigsby, I must think of him too, 

 Peradventure he will say that I scarcely can do. 

 And poor uncle Gregory, I must leave him a part, 

 If it is nothing else but the back of the cart. 

 And for you, my executor, I will do- what I can, 

 For acting towards me like an honest young man. 



Now, to my wife I bequeath greater part of my 

 store ; 

 First thing is the bedstead before the front door ; 

 The next is the chair standing by the fire side, 

 The fender and irons she cleaned with much pride. 

 I also bequeath to Lydia my wife 

 A box in the cupboard, a sword, gun, and knife, 

 And the harmless old pistol without any lock. 

 Which no man can fire off, for 'tis minus a cock. 

 The cups and the saucers I leave her also, 

 And a book called The History of Poor Little Mo, 

 With the kettle, the boiler, and old frying-pan, 

 A shovel, a mud-scoop, a pail, and a pan. 

 And remember, I firmly declare and protest 

 That my poor aged mother shall have my oak chest 

 And the broken whip under it. Do you hear what I 



say? 

 Write all these things down without any delay. 

 And my dear little child, I must think of her too. 

 Friend Joseph, I am dying, what shall I do ? 

 I give her my banyan, my cap, and my hose. 

 My big monkey jacket, my shirt, and my shoes; 

 And to Uncle Sam Bigsby I bequeath my high boots, 

 The pickaxe and mattock with which I stubbed roots. 

 And poor Uncle Gregory, with the whole of my heart, 

 I give for a bedstead the back of the cart. 

 And to you, my executor, last in my will, 

 I bequeath a few trifles to pay off" your bill. 

 I give you my shot-belt, my dog, and my nets. 

 And the rest of my goods sell to pay off my debts. 



" Joseph Finch, executor. 

 "Dated February 4th, 1839." 



There are several good points and useful hints 

 in this document. In the first place it appears 

 the testator did not think of making a will till he 

 felt " very queer," which serves to remind the 

 reader that it is more discreet to attend to a 

 matter of this kind when in health, as few per- 

 sons can think and act calmly and dispassionately 

 when they feel " very queer." Then the choice 

 of an executor is a matter to be vrell considered. 

 Here we find one appointed who on previous occa- 

 sions had proved himself " an honest young man." 

 The fatherly, kind, and affectionate manner in 

 which the testator speaks of his "dear little child" 

 is of a pleasing character. Perhaps It may be said 

 he left her a queer legacy. Granted ; but then it 

 must be remembered that a man can bequeath no 

 more than he possesses ; as a member of the So- 

 ciety of Friends would say, " Such as I have I 

 give unto thee." The back of the cart given to 

 " Uncle Gregory " was for a long time used in the 

 cottage for the purpose of a bedstead ; and it pos- 

 sessed at least one advantage, as those sleeping In 

 it could not very well fall out of bed. The exe- 

 cutor being somewhat of a sporting character, the 

 " shot-belt, dog, and nets " were the most accept- 

 able present that could be offered him. Some in- 

 genuity is displayed in drawing up this will, as it 



