Beschreibung:

BURR, Aaron (1756-1836), Vice-president . Manuscript document signed, ("A. Burr") witnessed by Ogden Edwards and Henry Oscar Taylor "Student at Law," 27 December 1835. 2 pages, 4to . BURR SIGNS THE FINAL CODICIL TO HIS WILL A few months before his death, Aaron Burr adds this codicil to his 1834 will, disposing of various personal effects: "I direct and order my pictures [paintings] to be given to my two daughters upon the day of their marriage, in the meantime to be held in the custody of my friend and kinsman, Theodosia Prevost, by whom the division is to be made." To Henry Oscar Taylor, a law student for whom Burr acted as guardian, he gave "such books and maps and wearing apparel belonging to me, as may be found in my house at my death." To "my friend and kinsman Theodosia Prevost," Burr bequeathes "the picture of my daughter, which is enamelled on a China Cup, which is believed to be in the upper drawer of my Yellow Desk." Young Taylor, and Burr's Staten Island cousin, Judge Ogden Edwards, witnessed the codicil. The Theodosia Prevost mentioned in the document is evidently a collateral relative to Burr's first wife and his daughter, both of whom shared that name, and both of whom predeceased him. Burr was close to death himself at the time of this codicil, evidenced by the shaky signature showing the ravages of the two strokes he had suffered in the preceding four years. The first, in 1830, only partially disabled him. The second left him a permanent invalid. In these final years, Burr lived in the old Jay Mansion, now converted to a boarding house. When that building was slated for demolition, Edwards moved his cousin to the Hotel St. James on Staten Island, where Burr died on 14 September 1836.