It is interesting to note that when Emma died, her estate was worth $100,000 more than Lizzie's, which reflected Lizzie's spending life style. With the exception of Maplecorft, Emma never spent her money. She probably received good advice from her cousin Preston who was a banker.
Upon her death Emma was very generous with her givings. The biggest benefactors were the Gardner family. Not only in money but in personal items like furnishings, photographs, personal effects, etc. As for her sister, Emma only left her $1000 in money but relinquished her interest in Maplecroft to Lizzie had she died first.
Even Charles Cook, the fellow who took care of her father's properties, and hers for a short period, received $1000 more than Lizzie.
Now, there's an important commentary here about Emma's personal items. When Emma died she was in possession of the large formal portraits of her mother, Sarah and her father, Andrew. The fact that she ended up with them could revel something about how she and Lizzie felt about their parents. Of course, there could have been duplicates of similar portraits which were left with Lizzie. Or Emma could have just taken them. But it is important to note that the portraits discovered in Swansea by Stefani Koorey were donated to the town by the Gardner Family, which in turn were left to them by Emma.
It is also interesting to note the the largest amount given to any one person or organization was given to the Fall River Animal rescue shelter.
How interesting, would you not say
Below is a portion of who Emma left her money to. To say she thought of everyone and was very generous would be the truth. I left out a lot of other people, but this gives you a good idea of her magnanimity and kindness.
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I give and bequeath to my cousin, Orrin A. Gardner, of Touisset, Massachusetts, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), and all of my household furniture and furnishings, including all books, pictures, ornaments and personal effects not otherwise disposed of in this will, if he shall survive me.
I give and bequeath to Mary E. Gardner and to Maude Peterson Gardner, of said,
Providence, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), to be equally divided between them, and if either shall not survive me then said sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to the survivor. I also give and bequeath to said Mary E. Gardner and to Maude Preston Gardner such jewelry as I may own at the time of my death.
To the Fall River Branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae, for the purpose of carrying on the work of the Ninth Street Day Nursery of Fall River, and if it shall cease to exist then for any similar work, the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000) to the Rescue Mission of Fall River, Massachusetts, the sum of two Thousand Dollars ($2,000); to the Children's Home of Fall River, the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000); to the Fall River Women's Union, of Fall River, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000); to the Home for Aged People in Fall River the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000); to the Association for Community Welfare in Fall River, the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000); to the Animal Rescue League of Fall River, the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000); to the Fall River Deaconess Home of Fall River, the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000); to the Young Men's Christian Association of Fall River, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000); to the Salvation Army of Massachusetts, Incorporated, to be used and applied only in its work in city of Fall River, Massachusetts, and in that vicinity, the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000); to the Massachusetts Girl Scouts, Incorporated, to be used and applied only to the Local Council of Fall River for work in and about Fall River, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000); to the District Nursing Association of Fall River, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000). Bishop Stang Day Nursery of Fall River, the sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000); to The Saint Vincent's Home Corporation of Fall River, the sum of Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000); to the Boys' Club of Fall River, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000); and to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, incorporated in 1878, for the use of its Fall River District, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000).