Last Requests

[L Verge]

I have never heard of any wills either. Mrs. Surratt inherited nothing but bills when her husband died in 1862, because he died without a will and widows could not inherit in such cases (at least in Maryland). Therefore, his property in Surrattsville and D.C. went to his three children. Shortly before leaving his job with the Adams Express Company and committing all of his time to the Confederacy, John, Jr. signed over his property rights to his mother. He knew that the Confiscation Acts would kick in if his role as an enemy agent was found out. That would have been the first time that his mother owned anything and I doubt there was any time or money to have a will drawn up.

As to last requests: I hope that I remember to tell you about the spurious "final note" supposedly written by Mrs. Surratt on the morning of her execution. I have a copy of it at work and will try to post it tomorrow.