HENRY WARD BEECHER

Description:

(1813 - 1887) American clergyman who was an ardent supporter of abolition and woman suffrage. He was brought down by an adultery scandal that shocked the nation. A.L.S. regarding his sister HARRIET BEECHER STOWE, 4pp. 8vo., 'Mine Mountain House' [n.p.], Sep. 21, 1872, in part: ‘...Two days ago there came...a basket of grapes for Mrs. Stowe. She having departed this Hotel we deemed it for all present purposes equivalent to departing this life. The question arose as to the disposition of her estate. I was ignorant of the law of property...we could find no precedent, although grapes and vineyards were clearly reckoned as property...We therefore deemed it right...to make our own law, and we decreed that this basket should be held on real estate, subject to the laws of N. Hampshire...but the grapes should be personal property...My sister Mrs. Perkins held the same view of law as I did, and assisted me in settling the estate of the late lamented Mrs. Stowe...We referred the case to several ladies in the house of great wit...they all joined us in thinking our decision wise and timely...' Signed at the conclusion. Fine.