That really struck me, as well. Throughout his life he volunteered with organizations and charities that helped women and children, and his will made me think he was a man who walked the talk. The other think that I found interesting was the way Archibald made sure his estate remained autonomous and was never absorbed into Mary Martha's estate, even to the point of saying she could "possess and use" his personal property and family heirlooms, but, when she died, they were bequeathed to others, with the family things staying in his family.
A quite wealthy man here, Archibald! And yes, I agree this is a will with much support for his causes and for the women in the family, plus his particular personal values. Wills are wonderful treasure in family history, when we can find them for our ancestors!
Fascinatin peek into the transmission of intergenerational wealth. I'm struck by how much he set aside for women.
That really struck me, as well. Throughout his life he volunteered with organizations and charities that helped women and children, and his will made me think he was a man who walked the talk. The other think that I found interesting was the way Archibald made sure his estate remained autonomous and was never absorbed into Mary Martha's estate, even to the point of saying she could "possess and use" his personal property and family heirlooms, but, when she died, they were bequeathed to others, with the family things staying in his family.
A quite wealthy man here, Archibald! And yes, I agree this is a will with much support for his causes and for the women in the family, plus his particular personal values. Wills are wonderful treasure in family history, when we can find them for our ancestors!