From the New York Times, 9/30/1900

MISS VAN LEW’S WILL.

Special to The New York Times.

RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 29. – The will of Miss Elizabeth L. Van Lew, the old lady whose devotion  to the cause of the Union during the war made her such a notable character, was offered for probate here today. All of the estate of the deceased is left to the two Misses Hall, nieces of the deceased.

The most interesting feature of the will is a codicil in which Miss Van Lew leaves “to my dear friend, Mr. John Phillips Reynolds of Boston, all of my manuscript.” This is believed to give a most interesting history of Miss Van Lew’s eventful life and especially her signal services to the Union cause during the war. The will provides that all of the household furniture, which is of very old style, shall be sold in Boston. The old lady’s idea for this was that her personal effects would bring a better price in the New England metropolis, where she had many sympathizers and was well known, than elsewhere.

The estate is only valued at $5,000. The old homestead in which Miss Van Lew was born is included in the list. It was at one time one of the handsomest homes here, but is now much dilapidated.

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