“Signed and Sealed at Paris on the 17th of February, 1818, in the presence of—C. Campbell, Col. and Capt. Ad Guards—Geo. Cathcart 6th D.G.—Arthur Hill Capt. 2nd Dragns.”

CHAPTER VII
WILLS OF FAMOUS AMERICANS

“ ... The past is all holy to us;
Sad and soft in the moonlight of memory.”

Will of John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams died February 23, 1848. His will is in part as follows:

“Know all men by these presents, “that I, John Quincy Adams, of Quincy in the County of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Doctor of Laws, do make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills by me heretofore made and particularly one made on or about the 30th day of October, 1832, the last will made by me preceding the present, which has become mislaid among my papers so that I cannot find it; I therefore revoke and annul the same in all and every particular of the same; of which said will, as far as my memory retains it, Joseph Hall, Edward Cruft and James H. Foster were subscribing witnesses.

“1st. I do hereby constitute and appoint my only surviving son Charles Francis Adams of Boston Esquire, my sole Executor for all my property in this Commonwealth or in the District of Columbia or elsewhere; and I direct him hereby to take out Letters of Administration as well in the County of Norfolk in this Commonwealth as in the County of Washington in the District of Columbia, and if necessary in the State of Pennsylvania, so that he may administer upon any property, real, personal or mixed pertaining to me in any part of the United States at the time of my decease, and I hereby constitute my said son residuary Legatee of all property, real, personal and mixed belonging to me, not otherwise disposed of by this will.

“2nd. But in the event of the decease of my said Son, which God forbid, my beloved wife still surviving, I do hereby constitute her the Sole Executrix of all my goods, estate and property not previously administered, with such assistants as she may name and as may be assented to by the Judge of Probate of the County wherein my said will may be proved and approved.”

He gives and bequeaths to his beloved wife Louisa Catherine Adams, his dwelling house and lot in the city of Washington, and the dwelling house and farm at Quincy “including the lots of Salt Marsh heretofore leased in Connexion therewith.”

He also gives to his wife the dwelling-house and land situated on F. Street in the city of Washington, being his residence in the capital.