Will of George Peabody
George Peabody died in London, November 4, 1869. He was born in the parish of Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1795: twice during the War of 1812 he was a volunteer in defence of the United States.
He established the house of Peabody & Company in London, and died there, but ever maintained the liveliest interest in his native land; he remained unmarried; during his lifetime, he gave away nearly ten millions of dollars, largely for the betterment of society; the objects of his bounty are too well known to be stated; the most influential during his life being three millions for the promotion of education in the Southern States, and three millions to erect model tenements for the poor of London.
When he died, the Queen attended his funeral in person, accompanied by the Royal Guard, and ordered that his body be placed in Westminster Abbey; Gladstone was one of his pall-bearers; by his will, however, he had directed that his body should rest in Harmony Grove in his native village, by the side of his father and mother and in a spot known to his boyish feet. The body was removed from the Abbey and placed on board the British man-of-war, Monarch, in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and many distinguished citizens; the Monarch was convoyed to America by a French and an American man-of-war.
The Rev. Newman Hall said, in his funeral oration: “George Peabody waged a war against want and woe. He created homes—he never desolated one. He sided with the friendless, the houseless, and his life was guided by a law of love which none could ever wish to repeal. His was the task of cementing the hearts of Briton and American, pointing both to their duty to God and to Humankind.”
The philanthropy of Peabody was not in secret, or posthumous; he did not clutch his treasures until death should release the grasp; he parted with his millions in his lifetime. Mr. Moody, the Evangelist, relates this incident:
“I was a guest of John Garrett once, and he told me that his father used to entertain George Peabody and Johns Hopkins. Peabody went to England, and Hopkins stayed in Baltimore. They both became immensely wealthy; Garrett tried to get Hopkins to make his will, but he wouldn’t. Finally, Garrett invited both to dinner and afterward asked Peabody which he enjoyed most, the making of money or giving it away. Hopkins cocked up his ears, and then Peabody told him that he had a struggle at first, and it lasted until he went into his model London houses, and saw the little children so happy. ‘Then,’ said Peabody, ‘I began to find out it was pleasanter to give money away than it was to make it.’ Forty-eight hours later Hopkins was making out his will, founding the University and Hospital which bear his name.”
Will of James K. Polk
Mr. Polk had held distinguished positions in the State of Tennessee, but he was in no sense a national figure at the time of his nomination by the Democratic party. His will was written with his own hand at the Executive Mansion in Washington, at a time when he was President of the United States; he was a lawyer of recognized ability, and his will was witnessed by one who had been his law partner, but who was then a senator of the United States. It was evidently the result of much careful deliberation on his part. He died at Nashville on June 15, 1849, comparatively a young man, not long after quitting the office of President of the United States. His widow continued to reside on the Polk place in the City of Nashville, and she survived him some forty years. This venerable lady became one of the most unique social characters in America. An annual pension of five thousand dollars voted by Congress, maintained her in a position of ease and comfort, if not of retired elegance. The legislature of Tennessee, at every one of its sessions, adjourned and paid a ceremonial visit to her at her residence.
The life estate in the home place, which was devised to her by the will of her husband, terminated at her death, some years ago.