A Last Will and Testament is not only a list of the deceased’s assets to be distributed. It is also intended to fulfill the last wishes of the decedent, and some people have had some pretty weird wishes when they die:
Millar
Charles Vance Millar was a Canadian lawyer and investor who died in 1926. He was known for his great sense of humor, and this was carried over to his will. Among other things, Millar left his vacation house in the custody of three people he knew hated each other, and left the cash value of his estate to the woman who gave birth to the most number of children in a span of ten years. Four women, who birthed nine children each, split the cash prize, amounting to $125,000 each.
Bowman
John Bowman, a Vermont tanner who died in 1891, provided a $50,000 trust for the maintenance of his mansion and mausoleum because he believed that he would be reunited with his deceased wife and two daughters. The will called for servants to serve dinner every night in case the family returned from the dead and decided they were hungry. This was carried out until 1950 when the trust ran dry.
Houdini
Harry Houdini. The famous magician, who died in 1926, left his wife a “secret code” – 10 words chosen at random – that he would use to contact her from the afterlife. His wife held séances on Halloween for 10 years, but he never appeared.
Bentham
Jeremy Bentham, an influential philosopher who died in 1832, wanted his body to be dissected in public, as part of a lecture on anatomy, and then his skeleton and head to be preserved and stored in a display cabinet. His body currently sits on public display at the University College London, a school that he had a large part in creating.
What weird things would YOU put in your will?
Leave a comment or email us. We’ll post the best answers next month.
