Johns Hopkins, an American financier and philanthropist, and the founder of the Hospital and University which bear his name, died in Baltimore, Maryland, December 24, 1873.
The first item in his will is as follows:
“First and principally, I commit, with humble reverence, my soul to the keeping of Almighty God.”
Then follows in great detail, the provisions for the establishment of the Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Hospital. It was directed that the Hospital should have buildings, not only for the whites, but for the sick, poor colored people, and also a building for the reception and care of colored orphans and destitute children. Both the University and the Hospital were corporations which the will declares had been already created at the instance of the testator. The hopes of the testator with reference to the success of these institutions, has been fully realized, for they are recognized throughout the country as models of their kind.
The amount given to these two institutions was approximately seven and one-half million dollars.
Will of Stephen Hopkins
Stephen Hopkins, a passenger of the voyage of the Mayflower died at Plymouth on or about June 6, 1644; his will in part is as follows:
“The sixt of June 1644 I Stephen Hopkins of Plymouth in New England being weake yet in good and prfect memory blessed be God yet considering the fraile estate of all men I do ordaine and make this to be my last will and testament in manner and forme following.... I do bequeath by this my will to my sonn Giles Hopkins my great Bull wch is now in the hands of Mris Warren Also I do give to Stephen Hopkins my sonn Giles his sonne twenty shillings in Mris Warrens hands for the hire of the said Bull Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Constanc Snow the wyfe of Nicholas Snow my mare also I give unto my daughter Deborah Hopkins the brodhorned black cowe and her calf and half the Cowe called Motley Also I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter Damaris Hopkins the Cowe called Damaris heiffer and the white faced calf and half the cowe called Mottley Also I give to my daughter Ruth the Cowe called Red Cole and her calfe and a Bull at Yarmouth wch is in the keepeing of Giles Hopkins wch is an yeare and advantage old and half the curld Cowe Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth the Cowe called Smykins and her calf and thother half of the Curld Cowe wth Ruth and an yearelinge heiffer wthout a tayle in the keepeing of Gyles Hopkins at Yarmouth. Also I do give and bequeath unto my foure daughters ... all the mooveable goods the wch do belong to my house, as linnen woollen beds bed-cloathes pott kettles pewter or whatsoevr are moveable ... and foure silver spoones that is to say to eich of them....”
The inventory shows a long list of personal property, including the bulls, cows, the “heiffer without a tayle,” spoons and other household goods.
Will of Sam Houston