“I, Aaron Burr, of the City of New York, now residing at number 23 Nassau Street, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament as follows: I appoint Matthew L. Davis, Peter Townsend, and Henry P. Edwards, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, my Executors. I give the charge and custody of my private papers to the said M. L. Davis, to be disposed of at his discretion. I propose in a Codicil to be hereunto annexed to give a list of my debts, and to point out the resources from which they are to be paid, and I authorize my said Executors to settle all suits and claims which I may have against any person whatsoever, and to give receipts and acquittances thereupon, and to sell any land or real estate to which I may be entitled at the time of my death, and to give deeds therefor. And I do hereby revoke and annul all former and other Wills and Testaments by me made. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four.
“A. Burr.”
“Witnesses:
“Charles F. Hill,
“Henry Oscar Taylor.”
There are three codicils of considerable length to this will. A part of one codicil reads as follows:
“I direct that all my private papers, except my law papers appertaining to suits now depending, be delivered to my friend, Matthew L. Davis, Esq., to be disposed of at his discretion, directing him nevertheless to destroy or to deliver to the parties interested, all such as may in his estimation be calculated to affect injuriously the feelings of individuals against whom I have no complaint.”
Another item reads:
“I give to my friend and kinsman, Theodosia Provost, the picture of my daughter, which is enamelled on a china cup, which is believed to be in the upper drawer of my yellow desk.”
Will of Benjamin F. Butler
Benjamin F. Butler died January 11, 1893. A copy of his will, together with a codicil thereto, is as follows:
“In the Name of God Amen. I, Benjamin F. Butler of Lowell, Esquire, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament.