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Viill, Testament and Codicils, of..
Hartford, I864

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WILL, TESTAMENT

CODICILS,

Maj. Charles Larrabee,
LATE OF HARTFORD, DECEASED,
Proved and Approved May 8, 1863.
Kecorded Vol. 72, Page 204,
HAKTiroRr) FROBATK REOORIDS.
"WITH AN APPENDIX,
containing such papers as he desired to have published in
connection with his -will.

• « *#* > •

HA-RTmORX) :
PRESS OF WILLIAMS, WILEY & WATERMAN.
1864."

&

BEQUEST TO CITY AND TOWN OF HARTFORD,
West Hartford being then a part.
ORIGINAL WILL, June 17, 1847.

I, Charles Larrabee, of the City and County of Hartford,
of sound mind and disposing memory, do make and ordain this
my last Will and Testament :
1st All my just debts and funeral expenses are to be paid.
2d. I devise and bequeath all my Estate, real and personal,
to The Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, of the
City of Hartford, and the Selectmen of the Town of Hartford,
in said County (for the time being), in and upon the Trust, that
they appropriate the income, or interest thereof, annually, for
the relief and benefit of lame, deformed, or maimed females of
said Town of Hartford, according to their discretion ; selecting
the most needy. For which purpose, said Estate is to consti
tute and remain a perpetual and permanent fund, to be called
"The Larrabee Fund."
Said two Boards are to constitute one body for this purpose,
and to act jointly, either by themselves, or by a committee to be
appointed by them.
I appoint David F. Eobinson, Executor of this my last will
and testament, and empower him to sell and convey all my Es
tate. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal,
and published this as my last will and testament, this 17th day
of June A. D. 1847.
CHAKLES LAKRABEE. [seal.J
In presence of
0. Allen Taylor.
T. Spencer.
Seth Terry.

Codicil No. 1, Nov. 15, 1854.
In the name of God, Amen.
Codicil No. one, to my will, dated in the spring of 1847, or
thereabouts, now deposited in the Farmers' and Mechanics
Bank, Hartford, Conn., 15th November, 1854:
I, Charles Larrabee, being in full possession of my mind
and understanding : I do, in case any property of mine should
remain after my death, and debts are paid, for the cause of suf
fering humanity, according to its disposal in said will, and
should anything transpire, that those who are appointed to take
charge and care of said property, as directed in said will, do not
take care of and attend to it, accordingly, I here appeal, and
pray to, and authorize the ladies of the City and Town of Hart
ford, Conn., to take charge of all such property, and hold it per
manently for the purposes directed in said will, and that this
informal supplement to said will, may hold good, from this time
onward to the end of the world.
All of which, from time to time, I do authorize and appoint,
as additional authority, to have and to hold said property
accordingly. Given under my hand and seal at Hartford, Conn., this 15th
day of November, 1854.
CHARLES LARRABEE. [seal.]
Witnesses* — Jas. Brainard.
C. A. Bowers. REMARKS.
N. B. The witnesses are now and this day, the Gentlemen
Merchant Tailors, at No. 17 Asylum Street.
The reason why I had not my will before me was to save the
gentlemen in said Bank, from the trouble of handing my will
to me, and receiving it again for a special safe deposit. To all
the old, and present gentlemen of said Bank, I shall ever feel,
and ever hope to be grateful for their kindness and much pa-
*NoTE. — This Codicil being signed by but two -witnesses, is imperfect.

5
tience, in the many times receiving and safe keeping of my
package, now in their care ; and which contains my life, the
most I have lived for, during some twenty years, and my prin
cipal hopes of salvation and Heaven.
All my debts are paid, to the date herein ; I have three
thousand four hundred dollars on hand ; all rny clothes, and
some other property, wholly free from every claim of all the
world, except the 72 years old, and maimed and helpless soldier,
and the cause of suffering humanity — especially female suffer
ing-
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Hartford, Ct., Nov. 15, 1854.
"west hartford bequest, then a separate town.
Codicil No. 2, Aug. 8, 1859.
I, Charles Larrabee, now of the Town of West Hartford,
in the County of Hartford and State of Connecticut, do hereby
execute this my Codicil No. 2, in addition to and in alteration
of, my last will and testament bearing date June 17, 1847, here
tofore executed and now deposited in the Farmers' and Mechan
ics' Bank, in Hartford, Connecticut. And I do now give and
bequeath to the Town of West Hartford, the sum of Five
Hundred Dollars, to be invested and managed by the Select
men, IN TRUST, as a permanent fund, the annuities of which are
to be applied for the semi-yearly relief and comfort of lame,
maimed and deformed females.
I judge this sum will be about an average between Hartford
and West Hartford, of what I hope and pray to leave at my
death, for those of my fellow-sufferers who have been more in
want than all other suffering humanity, because they have not
been known and publicly cared for, as Christ set the example,
in seasonable deeds, to the sick, lame and blind by the wayside.
May the funds I leave to Hartford and West Hartford, be se
cured upon a never ending foundation of the soil of these two
beloved towns ; and all this to be known to their people from
year to year, as well as the paying out of the half-yearly interest,
and to whom —

6
Should there be, at times, more interest money than is wanted,
for the cases provided for, it can be used for sick females who
are in want, and for other sick and poor persons at last.
I desire the Selectmen of the Town of West Hartford, to at
tend to, and receive, the bequest of this Codicil, and my kind
and ever beloved Executor will be pleased to carry out this
branch of my devoted love to West Hartford.
I go upon the belief, that every lady in all the churches of
Hartford and West Hartford, will be pleased to attend, as a
yearly committee, or otherwise, within their own town, to all
the charitable duties contained in my will and codicils ; to learn
the misfortunes of all referred to, and their wants ; to receive
and disburse all the half-yearly income of what funds I hope
and steadily aim to leave, as well as the same upon all funds
that may be added to my fund ; and may all our people, in their
own town, be united in kind and seasonable attention upon this
whole s\ibject, in all the future, and thereby enjoy the best of all
Christian feeling, and perform the best of all Christian duties,
to suffering humanity.
Here follows the names of the first committee of ladies of
West Hartford, being two from each church, viz :
Mrs. Electa A. Brace, wife of Thomas Brace.
Mrs. Mahala Goodwin, wife of Thos. 0. Goodwin.
Mrs. Patience Briggs, wife of Josiah Briggs.
Mrs. Roxey Woodford, wife of Truman Woodford.
Mrs. Elizabeth Wells, wife of Homer Wells.
Mrs. Harriet Kelsey, wife of Edward Kelsey.
This committee must be elected yearly, and oftener in case of
vacancy. My will is now in its teens of years, and it is about as
long since I saw it ; and I do not now remember all its contents,
or of the contents of number one codicil. I may point out here
something more to be done, over what I have in said former
papers, and may all be attended to alike, as far as necessary, in
each town.
What I have proposed, in my memorandums upon my will
and codicils, and upon my grave lots, especially, I desire to have

as sacredly observed as though contained in said will and codi
cils. I may have stated the name of the fund in my will. Should
more funds be added by others, as I have proposed in my mem
orandum of June 24, 1859,* I leave it to the ladies of Hartford
and West Hartford, to fix a suitable name to said fund. And
Oh! God! when this subject comes before the people of said
towns, may the funds never fall short in either town of the sums
stated in the paper referred to, of June 24, 1859.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.
West Hartford, Conn., August 3, 1859.
CHARLES LARRABEE. [seal.J
In presence of us who have at his request, subscribed our
names as witnesses.
Joseph E. Brace.
Electa A. Brace.
Thomas Brace.
TJie Selectmen shall pay over the interest money upon an
order of the Committee of ladies, in all the future.
N. B. The above words being omitted in their place, when
this paper is published they must be added to the paragraph
containing the ladies' names. West Hartford, August 3, 1859.
CHARLES LARRABEE. [l. s.J
In presence of the same witnesses.
Thomas Brace.
Electa A. Brace.
Joseph E. Brace.
BEQUEST to CITY AND TOWN OF HARTFORD, AGAIN.
Codicil No. 3, May 28, 1861.
Codicil No. 3 to my will dated June 17, 1847.
All the money that comes to Hartford and its city, from my
will, must be permanently secured upon real estate ; must be so
*See Appendix, No. 13.

surely known and cared for by the said Town and City Govern
ments, and principally secured upon landed estate ; for its donor
has lived almost alone in pleasure far above all other happiness,
for twenty odd years, even to curtail many necessary daily
wants, to set an example in deeds, as well as in words, of his
experience of the never ending, kind and charitable duties of
all God's family on earth, to prepare and have on hand abun
dance of means and hospitals, in advance of misfortunes, for the
early, as well as constant relief and comfort of suffering human
ity ; and all this will continue in endless happiness to me, to thus
live in endless love, as Christ so lived, to all humanity here and
hereafter. To have one of my absolute wants to carry out this bequest
according to my will, and equally sure to carry out the kind de
sires of the ladies of Hartford and its city, a permanent society
of ladies, formed from each church must be established, without
fail, of two or more members at pleasure, from each church, to
take special charge and distribution of the semi-yearly interest
of the funds I may leave, as a still living, helping hand, to those
referred to in my will, and to others in want in case of spare
means; and may no " stone be left unturned" by all our gener
ous and ever able Hartford and its city, till twenty fold of dol
lars be soon added to my small beginning, to this charitable
fund ; for seasonable relief will always overcome one-half of the
suffering of our fellow beings over all the world, that have to
live in hourly and daily want, for months and years without
said aid or relief
All other property I may leave must be placed to the care,
and made useful by the ladies' society named here. My two
grave lots in Spring Grove Cemetery, must be under its special
care ; their uses must be carried on and out, according to the
contents of my old letter to Charles Hudson* and Frank H.
Terry, now of Milwaukie, Wis., and according to what else is
here stated. My own lot must continue mine, whether I am
alive or dead. The foundation of my Obelisk is but four feet

*See Appendix No. 7.

in the ground, and that it may not be undermined, no grave in
my lot must be dug over four feet deep, but the grave can be
raised two feet above the surface of the earth ; nor must any
grave be dug any nearer than two feet of my monument, upon
any side. No grave but my own must ever be dug in the south
half of my lot, and nothing must ever be set out that can grow
to a tree — grow even to a small tree, in either lot, for they ruin
monuments in a short time. Should my granite monuments be
saved from the shade and dropping of trees, they will present
about as good an appearance a thousand years hence, as they
now do, and my light will shine before men, as brilliant then, in
love of all earth and Heaven, as it does at this day ; and may its
example be followed by all creation, to the everlasting joy of
all suffering humanity. I have heretofore, in mj writings (which
will come forth to the light*) given permission to arrange my two
grave lots into one lot, by taking away the center third part of my
present south side fence, and the surface of both lots must con
tinue as they now are. I have assumed the endless pleasure of
adopting numerous young ladies and gentlemen, to build a fence
round three sides of the lot bequest to Hartford and its city, that
they, and the following generations may have and continue their
natural interest and care of the whole lot, as their own, to be
used for poor females, according to my previous writings and
directions; and Hartford and its city, can but enjoy the happi
ness of having on hand, a sure resting place, for those in abso
lute need in their midst.
There is but one human family, so far as this Institution is
established by me ; there being several 'branches of said family
in Hartford and its city, the ladies of the society named will
naturally divide it so all its affairs will be agreeable to all con
cerned — and to make timely reports to the headquarters of said
society of all that has been done, and of all that is required to
be done — so a half yearly report can be made and published, of
all branches of the Institution, of Hartford and West Hartford.
It would be well for young and older ladies, of all the
*See Appendix.

10
churches, to take turns as new members of said society every
two years, so that all can learn the grateful value of preparing
seasonable relief and comfort to suffering humanity, and to thus
save all the extra suffering of slow and inadequate charity, which
rarely arrives till the last hour of suffering and life. My con
stant desire has been, to have the ladies of Hartford and its city,
have the entire command of the interest of a large charitable
fund on hand, for the ever indubitable wants of their own un
fortunate sex. And I can but now believe, that their kind and
ready administration, will induce all men to establish such an
institution in all places over the world. I desire all I have, or
may further propose to be done, in my outside writings* upon
this whole charitable subject, to be as surely performed, as
though contained in codicils to my will ; and all real improve
ments will come in their right place, through the natural kind
ness of the ladies' societies named.
A suitable name for this new charitable institution is left to
the pleasure of the first formed society of ladies, so often referred
to here ; and seasonable relief will always be supremely appli
cable to my ever natural principles and acquired knowledge, as
my will proclaims, in behalf of suffering humanity.
It can but be the constant pleasure and public duty of the
Selectmen of Hartford, and the Mayor, Aldermen and Common
Council of its city, from time to time, to appoint a Union Com
mittee from each government, to collect the half-yearly interest,
in all the future, from my bequest to all my fellow-citizens of
Hartford, Conn., and hand the same over to thig ladies' society
named in this codicil.
Hartford, May 28, 1861.
, CHARLES LARRABEE.
Witnesses — Stiles D. Sperry.
Chester Adams.
Henry Bryant.
*See Appendix.

11

stiles D. sperry, ESQ., APPOINTED EXECUTOR.
Codicil No. 4, May 13, 1862.
Codicil No. 4 to my will dated June 17, 1847.
Whereas, by my last will and testament, dated June 17th,
1847, I have made and constituted David F. Robinson of Hart
ford, Executor of my said last will and testament ; and whereas,
since the execution of said will, said executor has deceased ;
Now therefore I do hereby revoke the clause of my said will,
making said appointment, and I do now make and appoint Stiles
D. Sperry of said Hartford, to be such Executor of my said
will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
13th day of May, eighteen hundred and sixty-two.
CHARLES LARRABEE. [seal.J
Signed, sealed, published and declared, by the said testator, as
and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at
his request, and in his presence and in the presence of each
other, have set our names hereto, as subscribing witnesses.
E. D. Tiffany.
Isaac J. Sperry.
Chester Adams.

APPENDIX.

Note by the compiler. — A very large number of manuscript papers, prepared by Major Larra
bee for ultimate publication, have been carefully examined — all being observations and reflections
upon the grand theme of his -will and codicils, and of " suffering humanity." Many of these
papers contained so nearly repetitions of the same general thoughts and ideas, that much embar
rassment was felt in complying with the oft-repeated desire of the noble souled author, that ail his
¦writings should see the light. It was fortunately discovered however, that as late as January,
1863, he had himself carefully re-examined these papers, and had indicated in pencil, such as he
more earnestly desired should be published in connection with his will, and directing that " the
printer must be very particular and not print anything over twice or thrice, because it may be
referred to in several writings." All the papers which have been found so marked for printing, are
scrupulously given in this appendix, omitting only such general repetitions of thought, as appeared
to come -within the scope of his directiohs to the printer as above quoted. £t. h. m.

No. 1.
This writing is a supplement to my Codicil No. 3, dated May 28, 1861.
I find in seeing my -will for the first time in the last eight years, that it requires
the interest to be collected yearly, but it must be collected half-yearly according to
Codicil No. 3 in all the future. As soon as the society of ladies named in said
Codicil is formed, it wiU be -well to learn the names and the peculiar condition of
each person referred to in my -wiUj^to have and keep a record of all such cases in
all the future ; and I refer all to my principles and experience placed upon the last
page of the cover of my pamphlet upon peace and -war, for mj -way of dealing -with
this branch of the subject.
It has been my fate to inherit stuttering from my father ; up to about fifteen years
of age no person could have a greater job of stuttering to go through -with than
myself before I could pronounce a -word ; at the time referred to I had overcome a
great part of this trouble, but I have always had some obstruction between my
thoughts and voice, so much' so, that I have never been able to say but a few words
at a time, and then not without some blunders. I have never been able to make a
speech on account of these obstructions, and hence I have had to write and have
printed all I desired to place before my fellow beings.
I shall leave for safe keeping and reading at pleasure, to the ladies' societies upon
the affairs of my will, copies, so far as I have them, of all my pamphlets and other
printings and writings. I desire to have the portrait of the Hon. Henry Clay and
my portrait placed in the care of the ladies' society named in my Codicil No. 3, and
be kept at its headquarters. They are now at Mr. B. Hudson's, Pratt Street. By
referring to my pamphlet upon peace and war, it wiU be known why I have made
choice of Mr. Clay's portrait over all others. Yes, had he been our President in

13
the past, his well deserved influence, his noble and powerful peaceful and compro
mising abilities would have made the inimitable value of the seasonable use of
peaceful measure to overcome quarrelings and wars, so that aU America and all
Christendom would now, June, 1861, be unitedly enjoying the blessings of peace,
prosperity, and the most respectful and kindest of aU human and God approved hv-
ing. And all these enlightened and Christ-like times wih be permanently estab
lished in aU the civihzed world, when the value of peace to the human family is
employed in good season ; and when the political and official world " do as well as
they know how to do."
AU my civU and military commissions -wiU be among my papers In the Farmers'
and Mechanics' Bank, Hartford, Conn., aU of which I desire my ever beloved Exec
utor to have placed in a safe where they will be in perpetual security ; to also have
my wiU, codicils, deeds of grave lots, and all other important papers, in equal and
perpetual security. AU my books must be handed over to the care of the ladies'
society named in my CodicU No. 3, and be kept at its headquarters. And in the
absence of everything better, may they be used for the good of peace and charity
over aU the world. CHARLES LARRABEE and seal.
Haetfobd; Conn., June 3d, 1861.
Witnesses — John C. Tract.
J. L. Chapman.
C. F. Sedqwiok. No. 2.
Stiles D. Sperry, my Pjjoecutor.
In looking over my writings, I have written with a pencil upon each paper to be
published. The printer must be very particular and not print anything over twice
and thrice, because it may be referred to in several writings; the latest writing wiU
be the one to publish generaUy, if not always.
The supplement to CodicU No. 3 must foUow after the codicUs in said pamphlet.
The printing must be begun with the wiU, the codicils to foUow on according to
date ; and all else published must foUow on according to date — the places where
each paper was written must be printed.
I suppose it will be weU to have a hundred copies printed of my wiU, &c. Each
lady that belongs to the first organized charitable society upon my wUl of Hartford
and West Hartford should have a copy of said printed will, Ac, and be pleased to
hand them over to the new members of said society. Our ofScial authorities of our
Hartford, our city, and West Hartford, should each have a copy ; be pleased to hand
them over to new members ; be pleased to preserve them till something better upon
charity should stand foremost. A special copy must be placed among the records
of the headquarters of the ladies' charitable societies upon my wUl, and special
copies placed among the records of the headquarters of aU oflScial authorities who
have special power and duty upon my wiU ; and may what remains of the hundred
copies be carefuUy preserved by the ladies' societies referred to here ; and may said
copies be spread wide abroad and be weU helped to promote their special and uni
versal charity.

14
May my Executor please to pay for said hundred copies out of my funds in his
hands; and I can but believe that the printer wUl be called upon, or my Executor
caUed upon, for thousands of copies; and may one-half of what they seU for and
more should the purchasers so please, make said haU' and more when added a be
quest to the ladies' societies that are formed upon my wUl ; and these ladies wiU,
naturally and kindly add it to the mUlions of times smaUer bequests, than their ever
humble servant and friend, the undersigned, desires to bequest to suffering human
ity, to those referred to in my wiU, and second, to all in want.
One object of my writing so much is to prepare the way to save my Executor
trouble, but I may overdo, and I hope he may have patience enough to help him
well out in all my wiU affairs. CHARLES LARRABEE.
Haktfohd, Conn., Dec. 8, 1862. No. 3.
Special and important Memorandum for my Executor.
Here are my respectful desires upon the following subjects :
By the bequest of your ever devoted friend, the undersigned, one grave lot and
half of another adjoining lot in Spring Grove Cemetery, will at my death become
the property of the citizens of Hartford, Conn. A paper wiU be found with my
wiU, upon which old Mr. Page has given me the right to make said lots into one,
and this was granted as a part of the purchase of the lot adjoining the avenue.
It cannot be doubted but a large number of my present fellow-citizens, will out
live me and have the first charge of benevolent care of said bequest ; may they
especially go on united with the example of kind feelings and ready help towards
the poor in immediate want in this case, and may all Hartford be united in follow
ing said forever worthy example, upon the benevolent uses of said lot and half
of a lot — which are only to be the resting place of respectable females who die poor
in Hartford, and leave no relations, or special friends, who are able to pay the
expenses of a grave ; and aU the donor desires of the oflBcial authorities of the
Town and City of Hartford, is to have the care and see that all is done according
to the bequest and law.
I have mentioned to a number of young and older ladies and to a number of young
men, that the time would come, when I hoped they would give fifty cents each to
finish a piece of work that cost me some five hundred dollars, and that the whole,
except my common share, would become theirs for benevolent purposes. This
course has been taken to have a large number of citizens take an earnest and lib
eral interest, in building a fence and connect my two grave lots into one lot, by
taking the center third part of my present south side fence away, but should these
not be done, then the fence all round my lot must remain as it is at my death, and
our people act according to their pleasure upon this branch of the subject.
The best part of my life on earth wUl still be alive and above ground after my
body is placed under ground ; it will face the rising sun every morning from the
east front of my obelisk, in love and prayer to God and His own family, for the sea
sonable relief and comfort of suffering humanity, in all the future of this world. As

15
I understand it, the human famUy is divinely placed on earth ; for single persons as
weU as collective persons are indubitable bound, by the nature given them by God,
to do something for the good of our feUow beings who five here after ourselves ; it
has been my experience for nearly fifty years to learn, that ample relief and comfort
have been administered to suffering humanity, fully ninety times out of every hundred,
too late to be really useful and to accomplish what is intended by charity and offi
cial duty, and official duty has been almost a total failure in good season ; and it
wiU be found that aU my writings upon this subject, have dwelt mainly upon the
indispensable duty of seasonable help and comfort being administered to aU in
want, and the want of means and influence have been miUions of times short of
my natural and acquifed duty and desires upon this ever Christ-like interesting
subject to aU the world, here and hereafter In the presence of Christ.
My wUl appeals in the cause ofcharity at the right place, where this duty to suf
fering humanity should have first begun ; as Christ said " the poor wiU always be
with you," so wUl the lame, maimed and helpless be always with you, whUe the
lame and maimed men and boys, can generally be about the streets, where the public
can see them and learn their wants ; but lame and maimed females cannot thus go
about, and their misfortunes be known and attended to in good season, but they have
to remain at home and suffer on months and years, without the public knowing or
doing anything to relieve them, however poor or forlorn their fate may be. Here,
here, here, the subject of real charity should have its beginning. Mothers and
younger ladies should have special charge of the reHef for these sufferers, as a reg
ular formed and constant society, with a part of new members yearly, and aU reUef
and comfort should be placed in its hands for distribution, according to immediate
wants. All officers and other men, ha-ving charge of the safety of the bequests and
the half-yearly income of them, should without fail hand over said income to said
society — with an understanding that in case the society has a surplus of income to
spare ; Yes, yes, 0 Heaven and earth, may this surplus soon and often occur in
every town and society throughout Christendom, and 0 civUization and Christ-like
Christianity, may it be on hand and administered in season to save the double suf
ferings that have been in aU the past whoUy unnecessarUy inflicted, upon nearly aU
suffering humanity throughout all the world, and may our Hartford become the
worthy mother of aU the charitable offspring referred to here, and I sincerely hope
thatwiU exist in good time over aU the world.
I refer all Hartford to my codicU of Charity to West Hartford, to see how a soci
ety is formed for that town to carry out my wiU. A society of ladies in Hartford
to carry out my will, I have had in my mind for years, that the greatness, goodness
and kindness of the heart and soul of Hartford, are equal a thousand times over to
estabhsh said charitable society, for aU purposes of good to suffering humanity;
and here it is left in respect to aU concerned and with happiness to myself through
time and eternity, with what foUows as my views. Hartford has numerous churches
and a number of people of different nations ; in forming a society I respectfuUy
submit to all, the propriety of forming a headquarters society out of the old estab
lished churches, and the other churches form societies according to their nation, and
thus make agreeable on aU sides, to make reports to headquarters for the relief and
comfort desired for the "lame, maimed and deformed females" of their society; may

16
the headquarters society make yearly a general report to the public of aU the soci
eties; it wUl be left in generous and able hands, among my beloved feUow-beings
who outlive me, to furnish the headquarters society with a suitable room to carry
on all necessary charitable business upon my wUl and codicUs, and for the safe
keeping of its records.
My small bequest wUl place before Hartford, what is perfectly right, as far as it
goes, because it is placed where suffering humanity has its first beginning ; every cit
izen of Hartford requires no extra urging upon the subjects of bequests to charity ;
may they aU soon bequest a dollar or dollars to the charitable society mentioned
here, tiU the sum exceeds fifty thousand doUars at least ; and no one can be other
wise than forever gratified, for her and his deeds, to this new and ever wanted char
itable institution — the special name of which is left for the ladies who first form the
society, to name. May the Ladies of Hartford, and of aU Christendom if you
please, even at this late hour of the world, have command of a liberal and necessary
fund for the charitable relief of their own sex, first who are disabled and in want,
and for the further relief of suffering humanity, in case of spare funds, instead of liv
ing any longer asking over, over, over, and over A. B. C. through the whole alpha
bet of men, for the present absolute want of funds, to aUay some of the double suf
ferings that " lame, maimed and deformed females" have long, long, long suffered
for this necessary help, from the lords of the world. The parents of every child
born in Christendom should soon make a bequest, for their child, to'charity ; when
chUdren understand language, they should be informed upon what has been done for
them upon their duty to charity all their lives. All persons should thus commence
and continue living and devoted to deeds of charity, to the oldest age of this Ufe,
and thus be completely informed how to meet Christ in the life and world to come,
and be every way able to live and enjoy and know how to enjoy the happiness of
Heaven with Christ forever. CivUization and Christianity are able, in full and right
use a thousand times over, to carry on aU the human life of Christendom, in con
stant charity and hospitality as neighbors and nations, in all the relations of this life
and the life to come ; these are the relations that Christ proclaimed on earth by au
thority of God, for His human family to alone live on earth ; and 0 my ever beloved
feUow beings, may the exalted to influence, of every generation, wake up to this im
mortal and God blest undertaking ever since Christ was on earth, and sleep no
longer. My beloved neighbor, D. F. Robinson, being now dead, was Executor to my wiU ;
my beloved neighbor, StUes D. Sperry, is now my Executor to my wUl and codicils.
I desire him to take the proper Executor care of all property left by me, and have
it aU placed according to my will and codicils, and. according to the forms of law ;
and see that all the affairs of this whole subject go on right and very agreeable, as
I wish, to all both great and smaU ; and may God bless and prosper aU concerned
upon this my happy duty, and ever devoted love, to aU my fellow-beings, in aU the
future, here, and hereafter I hope. CHARLES LARRABEE,
who wUl be eighty years old 24th of August, 1862.
West Hartford, Conn., July 26th, 1862.

17
ko. 4.
Memorandum, Hartford, Ct., January lid, 1849.
I have wanted all the principal and interest of aU I have possessed, two or three
times over to make me comfortable ; had I lived for self alone all would have been so
used ; my life has been mainly devoted to the welfare of others, to be able to do some
thing to benefit my fellow beings, after I am no more in person on earth, is a consola
tion that supports me under every affliction ; the relation of man to man as God
bestowed it, stands first in heaven and on earth ; when this is fulfilled, all other
relations wiU be fulfilled in their turn — then there will be none to complain, none to
suffer, and peace and good wUl will govern tne world.
How it is that rich persons live long and good lives and never once think nor
bestow a portion of their wealth to the poor and helpless that are to live after them,
I cannot conceive. Many of these live single lives and have no relation so nigh as
the common relation of Adam ; charity and phUanthropy has an undoubted claim
upon them in behalf of suffering humanity, and they, more than all others should
leave something to this cause.
The fund to which my donation is granted, should amount to fifty thousand dol
lars at least ; it should hold the first place in the cause of benovolence in every
community : every person and government should lend a helping hand to preserve
and rightly administer its consolations ; it should take the name of the town in
which it is established. The Clergy, Ex -judges. Governors, Mayors, and other retired
officers, should be officers in said institution ; no one should ever receive a cent for
all that can be done to promote the cause of philanthropy in the case. Nothing can
be more gratifying to old age, than to know that something is on hand to relieve
the wants of the lame and disabled ; my disabled condition has withheld me from
doing much that I have desired to assist my fellow beings, but the hope to show a
feeling, and leave something solid is a great relief to my mind. May all the success
due to this subject, progress to completion, in the more able hands to which it is
commended forever.
My life has been spent much more for the benefit of others than for myself, and
may it so end. I have ever desired to help those who are in need to the extent of
my abilities, to do something and leave something for those in want. I wish the
last paragraph of the 19th section, I believe, of my letter on deposit in Bank to
be placed in my gravestone. CHARLES LARRABEE.
Ladies should take an active interest in care and concern of the funds and of
those proposed to be benefited by it. They have it in their power to establish these
relief societies everywhere — where civihzation and religion pervades the world, no
enlightened people can be rightly and fuUy founded in the cause of benevolence,
without these societies for the particular benefit of suffering females. My experi
ence requires and authorizes me to say, that our governments and our people, have
neglected their duty to ihe male and female sufferers by wounds and losses in all
the wavs our feUow citizens have been afflicted, and they have not one excuse to
offer that can avail them on earth or at the bar of Heaven.
AprU 14th, 1849. 3

18
I write from time to time, upon the subject of these contents, as my thoughts recur
to it ; it has been the foremost object of my Hfe for many years, indeed it is life
itself to me, in my old and helpless condition. My sympathy is uuceasing to do
something for suffering humanity after life in this world ; to leave this world short
of this accomplishment, would be the most miserable fate that could befal me ; no
man has lived with a greater load of sorrow on his mind, yet my mind has not to
this day lost its balance. Whoever I have had dealings with and have been under
obligations to, I have always done better by others than by myself, and they have
uniformly (I believe) done better by themselves than by me. The great stumbling
block in my way has been that in dealing with man, I have never made any allow
ance or provision for meanness, deception, and treachery, calculating to meet every
man as God had made them, honest, virtuous and sincere. I desire that my papers
may be retained and preserved ; the time may come when the liberality of man
wiU aUow your humble and devoted servant to have an opinion among men, and
his life rightly appreciated. CHARLES LARRABEE.
May 1st, 1849.
I hope whUe I am living, that when I am dead, my wiU and what I have inscribed
upon the east side of my obelisk, may be pubhshed far and wide ; and I pray rich
ladies, maiden ladies and rich men may see what their humble friend has done and
that they wUl establish and richly endow a simUar institution, in every town in
Christendom. Upon the east side of the obelisk, just above the tablet, there happens to be a
small and very dark spot, making quite a defect and wound, which may be turned to
account as follows : It wUl denote that the old soldier was wounded and sev^erely
maimed in defence of his country and people ; it resembles an " eye, looking to the
BAST " in search of light and salvation ; its defect -will show that there is nothing per
fect, and hence how needful and important it is, to do our best in aU things.
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Hartford, Conn., November 24, 1851. ^
No. 5.
Memorandum, to he seen and attended to at my death, or hefore if necessary.
As no man can judge whether body or mind, -will first become lost or useless ; as
my nervous system has become greatly weakened by the erysipelas for the last five
years, the loss of my arm having also weakened my nerves and laid my person and
health all but prostrate, I must soon fail altogether ; my mind may be the first to
lose its center, and in such an event, I desire my package in the trunk to be taken
to the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, at Hartford, Ct., to be opened and all things
to be attended to as I have prayed and requested, without further delay, so far as
my forlorn and helpless condition may make it necessary.
Jan. 10th, 1853. Hartford, Oct. 25th, 1855.
It is my daUy purpose to live within my means, so I can daily save some little
for my benevolent fund, or " rainy day" fund, in case of my being totally helpless.
I shall want aU my funds, if not much more, to pay my way and constant help.

19
Should I die before being any more helpless, 1 may leave some dollars for said fund.
I hope no unnecessary expense upon my death or burial inay be made; I have
rarely spent a doUar in my life for show ; this is whoUy contrary to my notion of a
being made in the image of God, fully quaUfled to know and do better, and for
which he is accountable to God. Said fund is to be caUed "The Larrabee Fund."
CHARLES LARRABEE.
New Britain, February 19th, 1853.
The more I reflect upon the subject, the more I am inchned to be buried in a
good strong wood coffin, say pine. I want no box for my coffin ; I wish to lay as
near mother earth as possible, so when I decay and become earth, there may be no
box or anything else to separate me from the earth ; a large box when decayed
would cause my grave to sink down and leave nothing of it to be seen. I should
Uke to have my grave raised two foot above the surface of the earth, and so. remain.
I can but see it is as proper to prepare a resting place for the dead, as for the liv
ing body, in this world, as for the soul in the world to come, and when one of these
duties are neglected, it is equaUy probable the other two wiU share the same forlorn
fate. My life is only satisfactory, when I am living something within my means ;
should this little something be saved to comfort suffering humanity among my fel
low beings, as not absolutely wanted for the old and helpless soldier, thqn I shall
have lived according to the nature God gave me, and done but my duty. Every
cent that may thus be saved will have been earned over a thousand times, not by
banishing unnecessary wants, but by curtailing many essential wants ; but to live as
God made me to live, to employ my life and body in defence of my people and
country in their hour of need, to devote my experience in fraternal kindness to my
feUow sufferers, is a satisfaction thousands of times over, even in this hfe, and to
possess such deeds of my body at the bar of Heaven, are supremely above all price
that this world could bestow upon me. Forty-two years ago this 9th of August,
1812, I was wounded in.the battle of Brownstown,* the first battle of the war of
1812, with aU the privations, pains and sufferings of the loss of my arm, destroy
ing nearly every comfort of life and of this world to me ; yet they never have les
sened my devotion to the welfare of my people. But what has become of the forty-
two years? Where has it gone ? It actually appears less than a shadow, in every
thing but convincing me by experience, that God has bestowed civilization, Christ
and salvation to the world, as abundant and everlasting means to settle every con
flicting interest between man and man, society and society, sect and sect, people
and people, district and district, nation and nation, by respect and kindness, by
doing as we would be done by ; with these to overcome and to set war entirely aside,
within the bounds of the enlightened world; every other means, that of necessity
are used by man inJiis first and rude state of life.
In case of my death, which may or may not be sudden, I prepare this request
and place it in my trunk, and also in my coat pocket, to wit : to have the Cashier
of the Farmers' and Mechanics Bank, Hartford, Ct., notified of this event as soon
as may be. CHARLES LARRABEE.
Norwich, Ct., Feb. 7th, 1851. 
* See No. 15, Appendix.

20
Also, in case of my death, while I may be away from Hartford, I desire to be
placed in a substantial coffin and taken to Hartford, Ct., as also aU my effects, with
as little delay as possible. I do not wish to be frozen in this world, any more than
I wish to be burned in the worid to come, and I pray to aU who may have charge
of my dead body, in case of cold weather, to save my body from the frost. I wish
the Cashier of the Bank referred to, to pay aU my funeral expenses at once, and pre
sent said biUs to my Executor, who will allow them as a matter of course.
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Stonington, July 9th, 1851.
Also, I desire my coffin and body to be carried to the American Hotel, in Hart
ford, Ct., to place them in the good care of the good host, who will be well paid for
all the funeral affair at his house. I have a package in my trunk addressed to the
Cashier of the Bank referred to above ; this package will be with this paper, laying
above all other things in my trunk, and I wish these delivered to said Cashier as
soon as possible after my dead body arrives at Hartford. CHARLES LARRABEE.
Haddam, Ct., March 22d, 1852. No. 6.
Memorandum, June 21th, 1852, Stonington, Ct.
The principles which have governed my mind, feelings, time, and acts upon the
subject of my will, which is devoted to the cause of suffering humanity, all spring
from my common nature ; this natural impulse has guided me without any effort
from any other power ; if one duty more than any other, more than all others, had
a claim upon me, it is that of my wiU, and all I can do and say in its behalf; my
experience of the fate of suffering humanity has added a combination of congenial
circumstances to promote this undertaking ; my maimed condition is the result of
doing my duty to my country ; according to my nature I co.uld not serve my coun
try less ; according to my nature I could not serve the cause of suffering humanity
less; I cannot conceive that either myself, my country, or God is to blame; and
may every human being acquiesce in what I have done upon this subject. The
nigher I am related by blood to some feUow beings than to all others, the more sat
isfied should my last days and hours upon my will be to them ; they should prize
this act as greatest of all legacies of a parent to them, and the world, when it is
found that according to my means and influence, my devotion to the cause of suffer
ing humanity has]^been second to none ; a monument wUl be erected that my chUd-
ren's children to the latest posterity, m^y enjoy and be more comforted than to have
mUlions in money left to them ; may the little I have done, with a never ending de
sire to do more, establish'a perpetual motion of philanthropy in the means and influ
ence of all men, societies and nations, in pre-making suitable preparations for the
comfort, relief and peace of suffering humanity ; and may the maimed and helpless
be no longer left to the sole care of charity, or to the long, long, long delay of offi
cial duty. CHARLES LARRABEE.

21
No. T.
To Charles Hudson and Frank H. Terry :
My young and kind friends, and feUow-citizens of our Hartford — to which we
can but be devoted to its progress, in all that is enlightened and Christ-like Chris
tianity. I come before you upon this paper to say, that in the common course of nature
you will live long after me; should this be the result of our lives, I feel confident
that I cannot intrust these things to any more worthy, or who will take a more
active interest in promoting what is here respectfully proposed. ^
I have purchased the grave lot between my own lot and the center avenue in
Spring Grove Cemetery, to be devoted to the cause of suffering humanity for the
town of Hartford, and for our fellow beings who are referred to in my will. At my
death I desire the young men of your generation, of the Town of Hartford, espe
cially, and others who may be older or younger, as they may please, to contribute
fifty cents each, and have a substantial and becoming fence made round said lot. I
may feel sure that my appeal is not too great, that no human being will ever live in
Hartford, but wUl approve of this your act of benevolence ; and that all who thus
contribute will live out their Uves in the satisfaction of having b»t well and kindly
done their duty in the case. It is unnecessary for any others but you, my beloved
friends, to know these contents till my will is made public at my death ; and they
are thus confided to your care, with an unceasing devotion to the common welfare
of our Hartford ; and that she and aU her people may deserve to be prosperous, and
blest of God and Christ to the end of the world.
With the kindest respects, I aril your obedient servant,
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Hartford, Conn., May 3d, 1853. No 8.
Remarks, made at the time I added my Codicil No. 1 to my WiU, Hart
ford, Conn., 15th November, 1854.
It may appear odd to others, that I should continue to add paper after paper to
the subject of my wUl, and carry on so many preparations upon the affairs of my
property, death and burial. Had I a family or some near relation here, mdch of
what I have and am preparing would be unnecessary ; situated as I am, I do not
see that I have done too much, but do see that much remains to be done to meet
coming contingencies, foUowing one after the other as they do, so that the whole
comprehensive anl unending subject, the inost interestiug and important of all
earthly subjects to me, may be carried on and out by the more able and worthy, tiU
comfort and relief are prepared in advance of misfortune, in hospitals, funds and
nurses, and seasonable relief administered to aU suffering humanity throughout the
worid.' And then, no human being can do more than his or her duty in the case ;
and can do no more than live as Christ, and do as they would be done by.
I cannot conceive it possible, tnat any human being wUl ever object to my dis
posal of what little I possess at my death, as my wUl does ordain. Sure it is, be it

22
a dollar or thousands, I have wanted it over, and over to make me daUy com
fortable ; no one can claim it short of being wUling to take victuals out of my mouth
and clothes off my person for selfish purposes, being doomed and used to immense
misfortunes and sufferings in many ways, ways of devotion to others protection
and support without reference to self, I have done my duty to all, and vastly more •
than my duty to aU, having claims upon me in public or private affairs, knowing by
experience as I do, that I am right and doing right, owning what I may possess at
death above the whole world, having no pleasures here or hopes of Heaven here
after, aside from enjoymg and carrying on my duty upon this Christ approved sub
ject; and may aU acquiesce and do better in the cause of suffering humanity, than
I may be able to do.
WhUe I live, I can but hope that the ladies of Hartford especially, and gentlemen
also, wUl soon contribute fifty thousand dollars to such a fund as is intended in the
wiU referred to ; they wiU find use for its income, or a larger income, in the way
proposed, every day or week in all the future, may those appealed to here never,
generation after generation, loose sight of this benevolent subject and their duty to
its appeals for relief and comfort, in the first hours as well as in aU the hours of
need ; and may all the people of Hartford so interest themselves upoiJ this their
own subject and ovwi duty, may set such an example as wiU be worthy and wiU be
followed by aU creation, and such as God will bless and prosper them through time
and eternity.
At peace with all the world and in love with God and Christ,
I am your humble servant,
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Hartford, Ct., Nov. 15th, 1854. No. 9.
To the Young Men of Hartford.
Mt Good Friends :
I shall at my death leave a number of papers, writings, memorandums and pub
lished works ; my Executor will require my wUl and some of my papers for a time ;
after he has done with these, I here appeal to my old and new acquaintances
among my beloved and kind friends, -feo take charge of all my papers and works,
and preserve them to the twentieth century at least. The times have been so slack
in producing good, peace and welfare, according to the abundant ways and means
at full command of the enlightened world, that my writings are ahead of the times,
and I have been informed over and over, that they are too good for the times,
for not a page can be found, but furnishes something for the good, peace and welfare
of the world. I shaU leave several truflks ; may what is wanted be used to hold
my writings, and what other memorials my young friends may desire to retain and
preserve. May all my other effects add something to my benevolent fund.
The world should hope and work for better and better times, without them, it
and all its beings wUl exist to little purpose other than the waste of time, ways and
means bestowed by God. Should the times improve according to the opportunities
at the entire control of the civilized world, I have the faith to believe that my

23
writings wUl be counted, in the twentieh century, equal to the best upon their sub
jects of the nineteenth century. They wUl form a foundation upon which a good
poet will produce the most thriUing and glorious verses and songs of the worid—
songs and verses that wiU make the " welkin ring,'' with rejoicings and praises over
the universal happiness and welfare of the best people and country of the world;
best, because they possess the most with which to do good, welfare and happiness
that God and country wiU always bestow upon a united people in this land, provi
ded they treat each other with respect and kindness; and no other life or living
can ever be worthy of American citizens or of our American nation.
The most wise uses of charity consist in providing its alms in advance of mis
fortune. This is self evident to every person and community, without learning it
by experience as your humble servant is fated — experience that requires him to say
that every person and people should voluntarily feel and act generously upon this
Christian subject without delay, tUl relief is in waiting to meet sufferings ; and
every people who delay this timely duty till want arrives, inflict more sufferings
than misfortunes themselves. However small my benevolent fund may be, the
motives of my bequest will not appeal in vain to the liberal heart and Christian
soul of Hartford ; the income -of a • hundred thousand dollars should soon set out
upon its mission of relief and comfort to suffering humanity, its seasonable and kind
offices will commend themselves both to the rich and poor ; this fund will become
more and more enlarged, more and more useful ; and more and more extend its
helping hand tUl it reaches every misfortune and sufferer in the hour of need,
throughout the bounds of the City and Town of Hartford ; and set an example
worthy of the world to follow. The day is not distant, when the City of Hartford
win spread over all the Town of Hartford ; when all its soU will be richly clothed
and adorned with roads, fields, fruits, and dweUings of the most becoming improve
ments and comforts of the age ; when the value of property will be increased a hun
dred fold ; when this benevolent fund will be increased to five or more hundred thou
sand of doUars; when relief and comfort wUl meet every misfortune iind sufferer at
their first hours of want ; when our fellow beings will be rescued from on^-half of
their sufferings, as far as this timely relief reaches ; and the accomplishment of aU
these magnanimous duties and improvements, will but fulfil the enlightened and
Christian destiny of the City of Hartford, the Capital of the State of Connecticut,
and whose relative relations for good and noble deeds, will never be second to none
among their sister cities and states of our America. Ephesians, 6th chapter and 8th
verse : " Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he
receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free."
EnUghtened wisdom consists in providing in " advance of misfortune," in "doing
as we would be done by," and in "loving our neighbors as ourselves." And our
highly esteemed, the Rev. Dr. Hawes, says, "Our neighbors embrace all mankind."
With great respect and kindness, i am your obedient servant,
CHARLES LARRABEE.
Hartford, Conn., March 28th, 1855.

24
No. 10.
A Memorandum upon my Will and last Testament in the Cause of Suf
fering Humanity.
Having about twenty years since ended aU partnerships; having resolved to
enter into no more partnerships upon any subject ; having thus set out in command
of myself and scant means; having from nature and practice been a great econo
mist ; having, from woful experience, found that suffering humanity has but little
to expect in good season from charity, and much less from gratitude, excep when
a favorite to the powers that be ; having indubitably learned from experience, that
I might become totally helpless any hour, when a " shot in the locker, in the hour
of need, would be a friend indeed ;" having lived a life without cost to any one
since I was Ave years old ; having a great desire to so live to the end of my days, an
equal desire to be free by paying my debts ; having thus "looked before I leaped,"
upon every expenditure, even to a cent; having thus far lived fully up to this my
own voluntary rule of life ; I would not now exchange it for a wasteful life, to
possess the world.
Knowing the life of Christ as I di; knowing that the right deeds of man saves
his soul to Heaven, and by wrong deeds his soul is lost to Heaven ; knowing that
I should do my best to live as Christ lived, as far as possible, as the best of all
guides to follow in this life ; knowing that I could not labor as He daily labored in
the care and relief of the "sick, lame and blind by the wayside," it has been my
special purpose in this undertaking, to live within my means day by day, even to
going hungry and ragged as I have, to save something for the cause of suffering
humanity, either for my own helpless fate, or for the comfort and relief of my suf
fering fellow beings in their hour of urgent need ; knowing by full experience that
I was right, that all the world will be with me, so far as it is right ; and these are
my deeds and my religion, my mode of worship, being at peace with all the world
and allowing all men to enjoy their own religion and mode of worship, I should as
soon judge, that any one would sooner disturb my grave, than to divert one dollar
of my savings from these Christian purposes, while I am alive or after I am dead.
Every dollar I have or may save for old age and my helpless fate, or for the cause
of suffering humanity, I have thus far wanted, ten times over, to supply my reason
able wants, have earned them a thousand times over in the cause of my beloved
people and country, have saved them in a way superior to every claim of all crea
tion ; and I ask nothing in return, but to have what may remain at my death, ap
propriated according to my will. /
AU these proceedings, and others to be named, are but a good example of my
Mfe ; I have never yet required the use &f any other life but my own, to make out
my own honesty and virtue, whUe others have not been able to make out their vir
tue and honesty, without traducing my Ufe. Should the world put an uufavorable
estimate upon my life, it wiU be wholly in the absence of truth, and the want of
this truth before the light, caUs for this paragraph. I have ever done by man, as
I have desired man to do by me. I have ever done more for others than for myself;
done thousand of times more for others, than they had any claims upon me; done
thousand of times more for our government and people, than they have done for

25
me. I am ready to meet the world upon these sayings ; and as much as I have
done and suffered for my country, it is to her alone of aU the worid that I am in
debted ; and shall always feel indebted to her to my last breath, in not being able
to do more and more for such an adorable home on earth,— second only to Heaven
in the world to come.
Having at the beginning of the past time referred to, provided means for the sup
port and education of my son; having done this without the first obligation to any
one, to place my funds out of my own hand, he was to remain at the West, I was
coming to my own native State ; and I placed my funds to be convenient for his
use. The wisdom of this proceeding can now be seen, in his prosperous situation
among his feUow-citizens of Wisconsin. I am rejoicing over his success; and may
he and his beloved family, live in health and prosperity, and so as to receive the
blessings of God. I have informed my son, that he has had his fuU share of all the
property I have had, or may possess ; had it at a time, when it was worth more to
him, than a miUion of doUars could be to him at my death. He has had recently,
from my scant purse, even while his purse is much larger, over six hundred dol
lars ; a part of which at least, and I hope the whole, will be secured to^my grand-
chUdreu. I have thus proceeded upon the best and soundest of aU parental affection
and wisdom, for of all misfortunes that can befall children, none can exceed the
overwhelming misfortune, of their living at ease and without knowing how much
labor will earn a doUar, in the expectation of smaU or great wealth at the death of
their parents, -with this " silver or gold spoon in their mouths," their filial love is
too often alloyed with doUars, thus they set out wrong, under the worst of all man
agement of parents ; and not in one case in a hundred are they of any use to them
selves or country.
I never possessed a doUar but I worked hard for, or suffered still harder for. The
world can never judge what I should do with my doUars, as well as I can ; my life
cannot be judged by any other life, or by any estabUshed customs of people ; none
of them have come up to my standard, according to my means. I am not appeal
ing to my people for help, but in fervent prayers to have them do as they would be
done by ; to "love their neighbors as themselves ;" and which includes all the fam
ily of God, aU suffering humanity at least.
In the loss of an arm, seven-tenths of the remaining arm is equally lost, in all
that is useful for support by labor and for protection ; the person is subject to a
hundred fold increase of chances to meet with other losses, over a person who has
all his limbs ; soon learning this by experience, I have been as careful of my person
as my purse, and I am thankful above all thanks, to find after living most forty-
three years in my maimed condition, that I stiU have a small part of the use of one
hand and arm. It is my greatest anxiety to not become any more helpless whUe 1
live • not that I shaU be left to suffer among those I have already suffered for, more
than tongue can tell, but I have always craved to wait upon myself, to be aUve and
active ; and not live as a drone or a burthen.
My own likeness and that of our great fellow-citizen, Henry Clay, I present to
the citizens of the city and town of Hartford, Conn., with a prayer to their civU au
thorities to preserve them, as memorials of the most humble and the most noble of
our land. 4

26
This paper has been clothed with its words, under the solemnity of knowing that
I must account for this deed to God. I have been governed in this work by no
motives, but those of truth and good- will to all men. My great fund of good nature has
supported me in carrying immense loads, not my own, but for the good of others.
This nature is a gift from God, for vastly superior purposes to every thing selfish ;
it is not yet exhausted, and wiU continue employed for the good of others; and
may what I leave of this world, for the relief of suffering humanity, be sacredly de
voted as I have bestowed in my will, by aU concerned, who live after me. I am
not aware that any occasion will call for this memorandum before the public, till
my death. I am ready to meet it here, or hereafter, as time or death may caU ; and
I close this act with never-ending prayer, that all men may live in this world.
worthy to be loved by Christ, and blest by God, here and hereafter.
CHARLES LARRABEE.
12 years old 24th August, 1854.
Hartford, Conn., March 22, 1855.
A Supplement to my Memorandum of March 22, 1855.
It being necessary in making a will, to be explicit in stating in what the bequest
consists, in defining how it must be preserved and administered, and in appealing to
official authority, to give all its protecting care necessary to carry out and continue
in safety, all the charitable objects of the bequest. My will is thus arranged, under
the full confidence, that every fellow-being who lives after me in Hartford, in its
city, and elsewhere, will approve of and administer my bequest, according to its
letter and spirit. AU my desires placed on paper upon this benevolent subject,
since the date of said wUl, are intended as devout appeals to my fellow-citizens and
beings, to lend all the necessary aid in carrying on and out, the charity bestowed,
so as to relieve the official authorities of all duties but its special necessary acts, so
that the subject may be every way gratifying to them ; and every way kindly and
agreeably administered in the cause of suffering humanity, by all Hartford and its
city. My bequest gives a particular name to its donation, as a necessary conse
quence to carry out a form of the deed. All that I may bestow will fall immensely
short of my desire to give, still more immensely short of the wants of our city and
Hartford, upon this interesting duty and subject. I can but look forward with an
unending joy, that the time is not distant, when the generous heart and soul of
Hartford and its city, wiU have a fund, from fifty to a hundred thousand doUars,
the income of which be devoted to the relief of female suffering and want, in all
hours of need, and to the wants of all other sufferings, where funds can be spared
from their special object; that my example wUl be hailed as a becoming foundation,
to build up and place this fund upon ; and that it wiU be endowed with some ap
propriate name, say, — "The Female Charitable Fund'of the city and town of Hart
ford;'' and said fund tie under their special care and control, in all disbursements.
The human family has thus far suffered more in the female, than in the male
branoli, in the civilized and christian world, by the females being the last to be re
lieved and assisted, in the hours of need and misfortune, if cared for at all. Go into
every enlightened commuui .y in Christendom, you find all men and people in wealth
and influence, and all seeking wealth and influence, after something, or giving
something, to make the male sex better and better off, so far as grants and control

21
of money, property, and exclusive institutions are concerned ; and generally leaving
suffering females, to sufter on without being cared for. Even our Indians, first
prepare a hospital and cabin for sick and di-abl d females, before preparing any
shelter or comfort for those who are able to work and help themselves, whfn tribes
rove about. So soon as a camp is fixed upon at evening, a cabin for disabled and
sick females is first prepared and the sufferers cared for at once. All these humane
duties are right witii them ; no less right and proper with all humanity throughout
the world and aU time. When attended to in season, one half of the sufferings of
our feUow-beings are prevented, yet, is it not too much to say, — that the enlight
ened world has faUed in these duties as communities, cities, towns, states, and
countries, in ninety-nine cases in a hundred in all past time.
Hartford and its city have ever had their full share of good, kind, and liberal
people, nor can it be too much to say, that they will always have them, who have
been and wUl continue to be, devoted to charitable offices, to the bestowing means for
benevolent and other becoming institutions. May the time now commence with large
and sraaU bequests, to create a fund in good time, equal in yearly income to afford
timely relief and comfort to all suffering humanity within their bounds; then one-
half of the sufferings and misfortunes in our midst will be overcome, the other half
wiU be so seasonably provided for, that millions of pains and sorrows within our
limits will be equally overcome; and all these and more and more of these Christ-
approved services, will be accomplished by these provisions in " advance of misfor
tune.'' This appeal is far within the means and generosity of the great and
phUanthropic heart and soul of Hartford aud its city. It comes with its thousands
of fold of claims before the rich ladies especially, before all other ladies, of our city
and town, who are able at pleasure with their own appeals and sympathies, lo
move aU Hartford and its city, upon following the example of Christ, in His early
and untiring kindness and relief to the " sick, lame, and blind, by the wayside," an
example no sooner followed than approved by all earth, all Heaven, and blest by
God. And all our citizens are equally appealed to for help, in this their own vital
cause. Now is the hour of need and waut, all necessary means and other abilities
are at their entire command, to " do as they would be done by, aud to love our
neighbors as ourselves," upon these the wisest and noblest of all the labors and
accomplishments of man on earth ; aud I here add my never-ending prayer, whether
in this life or resting in my grave, in Spring Grove Cemetery, till the judgment day,.
that Hartford and its city, may not be appealed to in vain, even from this the hum
blest of all humble sources, but be the first to carry on and consummate, without
delay, these grateful and devout duties to God and man.
I have not submitted a proposal here beyond my duty and experience, nor is a
principle placed here to convince, for all my fellow-beings of Hartford and else
where are already convinced, that it is every way right and wise to do, what is
here proposed to be done, that aU my appeals here, and upon all my previous
papers are so many prayers to my feUow-citizens of our city and town of Hartford
and other places to set about their kind thoughts and acts upon this charitable
work, the sooner the belter, for then all will be well; and time and eternity wiU
not be long enough, to satisfy the pleasure and joy of aU who seasonably and freely
do their duty to suffering humanity, nor long enough to abate the sorrow of those
who delay or faU in this bounden duty.

28
This paper is added as a supplement to my memorandum of March.22, 1855. It
may be my last writing upon its subject ; I very much desire, however, to make up
a supplement to my work upon, " Public and Christian Duties in Advance of Mis
fortune," but my hand and arm must greatly recover from their present weak and
almost wornout state, before I can do so. Said work was too good for the times
when puWished, because its only fault was in being fully clothed with the whole
truth, " so help me God." I beg my kind and beloved young friends to hold on to
it, till the times are as good as the work ; then, should it be accompanied by a sup
plement, it wiU be invaluable to the world, for then all enlightened and Christian
men and communities, wiU be equal to meet the whole truth before the light ; wiU do
their whole duty to the cause of suffering humanity ; will do their whole duty to
the cause of "peace and good- will to all men," as Christ proclaimed and met the
whole truth before the opposing world ; an example that man must fully follow or
wholly fail in their duty to God and man, to thus make civilization of infinite value
to man here and hereafter ; to thus live on earth as Christ Uved on earth ; and to
thus prepare the human family by the influence of seven times purified example of
the clergy, to live in Heaven as Christ lives in Heaven.
Septbmbek, 1853,
Living forty-three years this day, when I was wounded at the battle of Browns
town,* in fuU possession of the knowledge in what suffering humanity consists ; in
what comfort and relief in the hours of want and need consist ; and in what and
when a "friend in need can be a friend in deed" to the poor and unfortunate ; and
my experience upon all these important subjects has furnished me a bounden duty
to proclaim to the world, the whole truth upon them, — under a just penalty of be
ing unworthy to be saved to Heaven, should I shriuk from the whole truth in fear
of the wrong times and opinions around me ; and fail to follow the example of
Christ, in proclaiming the whole truth to the opposing world of wrong times and
opinions around Him. Till man shall be equal in aU the relations of life here and
hereafter, to meet the whole truth face to face, to proclaim the whole truth, he has
not finished his enlightened or Christian education ; and is in nowise prepared as a
teacher to do his whole duty to self, to Christ, to God, or man, upon subjects of this
life or the life to come. That I have been able to meet and place my knowledge
and experience upon our duties to suffering humanity, before the overpowering
wrong opinions and times around me, for the last forty-three years, is a consolation
and joy in these my few remaining days of life, — days devoted to peace and good
will, that the world would fall short of bestowing upon me with all its goodness and
gratitude, or with its wars and glory ; and no feUow-citizen or being, can find fault
with me or keep from the public, my writings and what else I have done upon the
momentous, seasonable, and kind duties always due to suffering humanity, but
must first condemn me, without charity or mercy, for having defended their homes
and country in war and battles, against our invading and foreign foes. A wounded
soldier cannot fulfill his duty to his country and people, or to God, without plac
ing before the public his experience and prayers upon the claims of suffering hu
manity, for the benefit of posterity, and I prize civilization of infinite more value to
me here and hereafter, in placing the life of Christ before the world, than all else
* See Appendix No. 15.

29
I have learned from the enlightened state of man. For without knowing His ex
ample of doing His whole duty to God and man, I might have failed in my most
important duty to my feUow-beings here, and to myself hereafter, during aU eter
nity. Yes, what is the enlightened state of man worth, outside of the precepts and
examples of Christ? Who can breathe a breath without being fiUed with sorrow,
to see the present wrong times and opinions, inflict upon the world overwhelming
miseries, -without cause ; to see the civilized world furnished with every means and
other abUities to live and enjoy " peace and good-will to all men ;" to enjoy in re
ality the prosperity, happiness and salvation, that a loving God and a bountiful
country and world are now bestowing upon her, yet she lives without cause and
directly against her better judgment, and directly against every precept and princi
ple by which Christ lived, by dealing vastly more in abuse, quarrels and wars, in
her enlightened state, than man does in his first rude state. Thus she is living in
waste of all the precious time and means to prepare for a better world ; living in
waste of aU the substance, privileges, and blessings of God, country and the world ;
and enjoying nothing in all creation but the mere shadows of enUghtened existence.
No wonder that the clergy have such a hard and unthankful office to fulfill, in
striving to live themselves, and in winning over the world, to live as Christ lived ;
no wonder that all men and people spend every breath and all time, to correct the
faults of others, while they have not a minute to spare from home. No wonder
that one half of mankind are upholding officers and governments, and the other half
are doing their worst to destroy them. No wonder " a house divided agains . itself
cannot stand." No wonder those who " do as they would be done by, who love
their neighbors as themselves," and who strive to save the innocent, poor and un
fortunate, from all unnecessary sufferings, are subject to abuse and destruction in
common with all the world ; and no wonder these God-ordained and Christ-
proclaimed principles of living are not aUowed a sure and firm resting-place on
earth, or a home in the breasts of people, no, not even in our immaculate nineteenth
century, a century of transcendent value upon mechanical, manufactures, and other
useful sciences, and a century of transcendent waste of the human famUy upon al
most aU other subjects of this world, — because the "people have not done right to
themselves upon public affairs ; and because the political and official worlds have
not been right or done right to their people and country, or to Christendom, for one
hour during the last fifty-five years.
But of all duties of man to man on earth, our duty to suffering humanity should
be first performed and never delayed. Short of this no man can live as Christ lived.
To hold out that man cannot live as Christ lived upon any subject, is to charge God
with ordaining an example through Christ, that as good, enlightened and Christian
people as ever lived, are unequal to follow ; hence the coming of Christ upon earth
is a divine failure, yet, after all, to not live as Christ lived towards " the sick, lame,
and blind by the wayside ;" to not now so live with a bountiful world and the
blessings of God at entire command, is the most unnatural and unbecoming of aU
human Uving in the world ; and a fallen state of man, vastly lower than that of
Adam and Eve. And above aU my never-ending prayers, I beseech aU my fellow-
¦f ens aud beino-s to never suffer my errors and deeds to stand between them and

30
their duty, their whole seasonable, kuid and charitable duties to suffering hu-
'"'*°''''' CHARLES LARRABEE.
Lyme, Conn., August 9th, 1855. March 22, 1855.
I ask as a favor of aU, to have that half of my own lot where I have requested to
be buried, to remain as my resting-place without any more graves being dug in it.
I have concluded not to remove mj Sarah from her present grave at Spring Grove
Cemetery at Cincinnati, Ohio ; and have mentioned in my former papers my wishes
upon the use of the other half of my lot. I presume that no person having means,
relations or friends weU off, wUl be buried in said lot, but only those referred to in
my wiU, who are destitute of all these at death, to this special end these lots -are
bequeathed. I desire to have aU my original papers remain in Hartford, may they be pre
served long into the twentieth century at least. I also desire my chUdren and
grandchUdren to have copies of all my writings and works upon the cause of benev
olence especially. May the young ladies and gentlemen who have charge of my^
papers and work see to this request, and have copies sent to Horicon, Dodge
county, Wisconsin State, where my children will be, as now may be expected, at
my death. CHARLES LARRABEE.
Hartford, Ct., May 13th, 1856. No. 11. Stonington, Conn., Aug. 11th, 1856.
Charles H. Lakkabee :
Yours of the 1th ult. is at hand. I am happy to learn that you aU, my good
children, are in tolerable good health, and have at last, and forever I hope, got out
of debt. I should have lived a slave to debt and never had a dollar on hand, for
self or others dependent upon me, but for my rigid course of economy, even to de
nying myself every non-essential and many essential wants, and I have thus lived,
not only as a principle of this life, but as a religious duty for my life to come. My
Ufe has passed on thus far more for the good of others than myself I find it is the
nature that God gave me, that has been my guide, in serving and loving my own
people aud country, as in d.ity and pleasure bound. In experiencing what consti
tutes suffering humanity, my untiring and natural devotion to do something in the
last years and days of lii'e, for the permanent relief of the " sick, lame and blind,"
has expanded my duty and pleasurS in the course of peace and kindness to the
whole human family of God, to Uve on for the good of aU here as Christ Hved here
and lives in Heaven for the salvation of all hereafter. This is my life and my reli
gion ; may they continue to my last breath ; and I live in the full belief and joy,
that the time will come when all of earth, who know or hear of me, wUl approve
and sanction my deeds upon this course of my hfe.
Three of the greatest misfortunes that can befall children and youth are fir.st, that
of bringing up chUdren without actual and positive labor, as an absolute want to
assist the proper growth of the human body in all its parts, to establish health upon
a soUd and durable foundation ; and to develop a comprehensive and Christian mind

31
according to the laws of God,-second, for youth to Uve in waste of their Uves,
without any work or business worthy of enlightened human beings, because their
parents are rich,— and third, for young persons to inherit great riches, who do not
know how much labor wiU earn a doUar, who do not know how much economy
wiU save a doUar; and who thus faU to live a useful, active, frugal, and Christian
Ufe, as Christ Uved.
Parents can in no way, do a greater wrong to their chUdren, than to bring them
up in idleness and laziness, because they have the wealth to do so. Parents, who
by labor and economy, acquire riches, to thus bring up their children, are uniting
with the wealthy, to inflict the greatest misfortunes upon posterity, bringing up
generation after generation of children, to become nothing but drones and shadows
in the came of God and humainty, to bring a nation and the human family down to
a standard of weakness and sickness, that will require the world to be converted
into a universal hospital, for the reception of the mere skeletons of the human
famijy. I have known for years, that had I lived with my chUdren, I would have to be
come a drone under their kind and affectionate care ; such is the fashion of the
day. Children and parents live for show and fashion, instead of Uving for greatness
of mind and soul in the cause of God, and comprehensive good; and short of this I
cannot live. Tlie human family is my family. It is enough to know that my chil
dren are well off; that; my life and means have done all their duty to them ; that
should they be in want my means would be at their command ; but, did I possess
mUlions, the experience of my gray hairs, would authorize their devotion to the
cause of suffering humanity, as a duty above all other duties ; my children would
be thousands of times better off without a dollar of it, or expecting numerous dol
lars of this great or immensely smaUer sum, yet my duty would be fully adminis
tered to them, in setting an example to be approved by God, and which should be
approved by all men in their own deeds and pleasure.
I desire you to preserve aU my letters, and may they be handed over and over to
our children's chUdren's chUdren. May you aU live for health and the blessings of
God. CHARLES LARRABEE.
No. 12.
Memorandum.
My will was made when Hartford and West Hartford was one town. My purpose
was equal over all the town at its date. My present visit to West Hartford, is to
continue said purpose over both towns, to see my old and beloved acquaintances
and their and others beloved posterity ; to reside awhUe at my first home after
leavino- my native town, Windham, Ct.,— being then in youth fully and substan
tially grown in body and health, as immoveable in these best of aU earthly bless
ings as the Talcott mountain just west of my present residence ; and where I re
sided fifty-nine years ago, as happy as man can Uve in this world, and carried on
the three farms of the Rev. Nathan Perkins. But being now almost seventy-seven
old it beino- the 9th inst. forty-seven years since I was wounded and lost my left
nd being now without arms and legs to help myseU, I find ninety-nine bun-

S2
dredths of my body and health are worn out ; yet I have lived to learn, that the
mind, heart and soul of man can and do live, in their full force and delight, in lov
ing God and Christ, our fellow-beings, and home and country, and the world ; and
may my deeds on earth confirm aU these, as my constant love here and hereafter.
Had I remained at Hartford, my home, I could have mostly used every dollar I be
quest West Hartford, in addition to what I may use here ; nor yet have spent more
than what my necessary wants and comforts should have, but here, I am enjoying
the utmost satisfaction, in thus devoting my life and means to the future relief and
comfort of suffering humanity. Christ said, "the poor wUl always be with you,''
yes, be always with us in Hartford and W'est Hartford ; and the ways and means
of relief and comfort, should always be on hand ; and the hospital and funds be for
ever within its own town.
But I am not in pursuit, in aU this undertaking, of curtaUing my own necessary
wants for twenty odd years, to set an example to be followed. This would be too much
to impose upon any one but myself, but I can never cease to desire, to have all people
in towns, save themselves from every necessity of such an example, in all the future,
by having charitable town houses and hospitals and ample funds on hand, at all
times for their support, for even words in prayer, cannot count much on earth, or
in Heaven, without deeds, without charitable deeds, to accompany them, on earth
and in Heaven. My experience upon suffering humanity of forty-seven years en
durance, is the common property of my feUow-beings, by being obtained in their
service ; and I am bound by all the ties of love and duty, to God and His human
family, to proclaim it before the world. It is enough to say here, to aU Christen
dom, that our ever present sick, lame and helpless fellow-beings, cannot lay aside
their sufferings and present wants and be well, till a town build and endow a hos
pital some fifty or a hundred years hence, but must suffer, suffer, suffer on,
on, on 1 days and years, ten and twenty fold, for the want of these homes and com
forts ; and no people should delay, a day, lending each other helping hands and del-
lars, to build and endow such pubUc institutions, to perform such Christ-approved
deeds. Yes, yes, these Christ-like deeds should stand ahead of aU praying and
preaching throughout the world, rather than fifty or hundreds of years behind them.
Even our Indians, do not live a day, without a hospital cabin at their vUlage, for sick
females, when traveling with their tribes, and when arrived upon the camping
ground for the night, the Indians erect a cabin for sick females at once ; and before
doing anything for self If any home is really a " home, sweet home," it is a well
built hospital, fully endowed in every town, for the immediate home and comfort of
" the sick, lame and blind by the wayside ;" and this is living and only Uving, upon
this important Christian subject, as Christ Uved on earth, in timely deeds as weU as
in timely words.
Common sense teaches aU the world, that words cannot accomplish much, at
most, upon any subject, without deeds to accompany them. Men may talk over
and over aU the words of the world, about agriculture, mechanical, manufacturing,
labor, and scientific arts and sciences, and without deeds to accompany them, when
would they have the comforts of house and home, food, drink, clothing, ships, navi
gation, and commerce, nation with nation? Never, never, never I Common sense
teaches aU the world precisely the same, upon aU duties of supreme love to God

33
and Christ; upon aU other Christian duties ; and upon saving our own and others
souls to Heaven ; and words cannot accomplish any of these transcendently impor
tant objects, without deeds to accompany them. Christ devoted one-third of His
divine Ufe, to deedj of relief and comfort of suffering humanity; one-third to words ;
and one-third to rest. This example was proclaimed by Christ as a divine law of
God; and made perfectly plain and easy for all enlightened men to follow. Had
Christ, when on earth, possessed ways and means, no doubt hospitals would have
been buUt and amply endowed, to save a worid of suffering of the " sick, lame and
blind by the wayside," but the upper-tens of that day, possessed aU the ways and
means, and withheld them, as weU as their respect, from Christ and His divine mis
sion, because He was poor and humble, and would not believe they knew every
thing, and something more. Just so it is at this day; the present upper-ten
possess all the ways and means, and aU the influence and power to buUd and endow
hospitals ; and we will see -whether_this humble appeal, upon the known wants and
rights of suffering humanity, from the humblest among the humble, wUl come be
fore any people and town in vain ; at this day of immense increased fight and duty
upon this Christian subject. And to close, it cannot be repeated too often, that the
deeds of building and endowing hospitals, " should stand ahead of all praying and
preaching throughout the world, rather than fifty or hundreds of years behind
them." CHARLES LARRABEE.
West Hartford, Conn., Aug. 10, 1859. No. 13.
Memorandum upon my visit to West Hartford, and which begun
Se2}t. 9th, 1858.
I find I shaU accompUsh the purpose of my visit, sooner than I expected ; and
hence, sooner return to Hartford. I have lived all my days without incumbering
and degrading my civUized life with non-essential wants ; I have lived the last
twenty odd years under a rigid system of curtaUing many of my essential wants ;
and 0 God! may the end of my life save something for the reUef and comfort of my
disabled fellow-beings.
I come here for the special object of residing at my old home ; to see my old
acquaintance ; and to carry out a deed of charity to West Hartford, under the ever
lasting pleasure I entertain for her, her people, and all their posterity.
I desire above aU other desires, that when my bequest as above, is fully known
to West Hartford people, I now pray, they -wiU aU voluntarily unite, aud bequest
enough, at least, to make up five thousand dollars, or even more, should they so
please, to the fund, as described in my wiU to Hartford, and Codicil No. 2 to West
Hartford. Every person, in civUized Christendom, should have bestowed a bequest
to charity, and faU not to continue these bequests, in aU hours of need. Parents
should attend to this Christian duty for their children. Every child and youth
should be taught to Uve as Christ lived upon aU duties; and charity stands first be
fore every person in the world, who claim to know and love God and Christ. This
is the way to Uve as Christ lived, and when fully carried on by civUized people and

34
nations, it will improve their condition, a thousand times superior to all the past and
present, — soon cause it to " be done on earth as it is in Heaven ;" and peace and
good will pervade over aU Christendom, — yes, over all the world in good time.
It would be very gratifying in carrying out the above- duty, to have a list of all
the people of West Hartford, at the time said duty is carried on and out; the pres
ent ages of all ; the roads aud houses where all live ; and the bequests
of aU ; and this would hand down to posterity, the most valuable informa
tion and guide, for ihem to foUow ; and to carry out for themselves, posterity and
their towns, many other uuited and valuable improvements.
I am equally anxious for the people of Hartford and its city to bequest fifty thou
sand doUars, at least, to the same purpose that my little fund is appropriated, as
found in my will, and to carry out a full list of all her people, their ages, the street
and houses they live in, and their bequests ; and they and their posterity, will set
an example, that will soon exalt Hartford and its city to pre-eminence, as the cen
ter of the world, upon this God and Christ-approved Christian duty, to the better
half of the human fa-nUy, who have been left in all the past and in all their misfor
tunes as a forlorn hope upon slow and scant charity.
Scripture requires all men to provide for their own household ; this I have done
in my case heretofore, in bestowing eight-tenths of aU I possessed to aU others of
my household ; there being but three of us — and now I hope to bestow an equal
proportion, as a delightful, Christ-like duty to my beloved households of Hartford
and West Hartford. My condition has always been humble, in my undertaking to
save something, day and year, for charitable purposes. It was even necessary to
lower my humble state, yet 1 have been paid, hundreds of times over and over, in
carrying on my voluntary deeds of kindness to suffering humanity, in my own
midst for twenty odd years. Beyond all these natural pleasures of my heart and
soul, the whole human family has been my family, so far as my humble state could
serve it. I still desire to do something, for its comprehensive welfare. And God
has made the hearts and souls of men, to expand in love for all their own kind, to
be comprehensively devoted in deeds, as well as in words, to all that is good and
charitable for the whole human family ; to be united upon the accomplishment of
perpetual and universal peace, Christianity, kindness, generosity, honesty, and mag
nanimous hospitality, of aU classes of people and nations; and upon endless respect
and Christian welfare, here aud hereafter. God has furnished His human family
with all the ways and means to So live on earth, in deeds as well as in words; to
so live in united love to God and Christ; to so live in reciprocal respect and good
will to all men and nations ; and short of this enlightened and Christian living, the
human family can never know and enjoy, over one-hundredth part of the real value
of civihzation on earth.
And may the civilized world, and may all official authorities especially, rise supe
rior to selfishness and treat all people and nations with that respect aud kindness
due to their own people aud nation ; and 0 God, save, save, save me 0 God from
Uving a selfish life on earth, and from going to Heaven with a selfish life.
CHARLES LARRABEE.
West Hartford, Conn., June 29th, 1859.

85
No. 14.
The foUowing principles have been carved out upon my obelisk* some fifteen or
more years. They have been my guide ever since, so far as I was able to live
kindly to all, and charitable to suffering humanity ; and shaU I so continue, I shaU
be satisfied ; and I can but believe that all others wiU find me nearly right, during
the last years of my life.
"These are my constant pkinoiples, life is only satisfactoky
to me, when i am doing something- to benkfit my fellow bbin&s.
It appears to me that I can take but little pleasure IN HEATEN,
UNLESS I KNOW THEEB, THAT I HAVE DONE SOMETHING ON EARTH, FOR
THE RELIEF AND COMFORT 01 THE ' SICK, LAME, AND BLIND, BY THE
WAY SIDE,' IN PARTICULAR." CHARLES LARRABEE.
"Born at Windham, Conn., August 24, 1782."
No. 15.
Mr. Fay's official account of the battles of the war o/1812. The battle of
Brownstown, August 9th, 1812, the first battle of said war.
[extracts of SAID BATTLE.]
" Lieut. Charles Larrabee of the 4th H. S. Infantry was wounded, shot through
the left elbow, and the arm was amputated four days after. On going to the rear,
which he was persuaded to do, he found the officer and squad with the howitzer in
difficulty, the horses being frightened by the firing, they were set aside and the men
made an attempt to advance the piece with the drag-ropes, but with all their exertions
they were only able to advance it but slowly up the rising ground. In this situation,
tugging up the hill, Lieut. Larrabee met them, saw their trouble, forgetting he was
hurt, he sprang to the piece, clinched the drag-rope with his right hand, and with
the greatest enthusiasm of feeling and language, he assisted in bringing the piece
to the front, with his left arm swinging from its shattered point, when he again re
turned to the rear.''
Copied at Saybrook Ferry, June 19th, 185T. CHARLES LARRABEE.
No. 16.
Commissions of Charles Larrabee.
Second Lieutenant — 4th regiment, U. S. Infantry, to take rank from June 13,
1808. Dated Nov. 11, 1817.
[Signed.] JAMES MONROE.
First Lieutenant — 4th regiment, U. S. Infantry, to take rank from June 12i
1809. Dated Nov. 11, 181"?.
[Signed.] JAMES MONROE.
Captain  4th regiment, IT. S. Infantry, to take rank from September 15, 1812,
Dated Nov. 13, 1812. ^
rgigned. JAMES MADISON.
jjj^jojj  By brevet, in the army of the United States, to take rank from Aug. 9th,
* On the east face.

36
1812, " for gaUant conduct and the loss of his left arm in the battle of Brownstown."
Dated Aug. 10, 1815.
[Signed.] JAMES MADISON.
Assistant Inspector GsNERAti— with brevet rank of Major from Nov. 9, 1814.
Dated Jan. 1, 1815. ]
[Signed.] ' JAMES MADISON.
Surveyor and Inspbotoe of Revenue — for the port of Cincinnati, Ohio, for the
term of four years from date. Dated March 3, 1831.
[Signed.] ANDREW JACKSON.
No. 11.
Received, Hartford, May 20, 1864, from StUes D. Sperry, executor of the last will
and testameut of Charles Larrabee, late of Hartford, deceased, the sum of
$6,342.02, it being the residue and remainder of said Larrabee's estate, and be
queathed by said deceased, by his said will, and distributed to the Mayor, Alder
men aud Common CouncU of the city of Hartford, and the Selectmen of the town of
Hartford, in trust.
The Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of the city of Hartford, by the
undersigned, their committee duly thereto appointed and authorized.
Allyn S. Stillman, Mayor.
The Selectmen of the town of Hartford, by the undersigned, their committee,
duly thereto appointed and authorized. N. H. Morgan, j g^i^.tmen.
Geo. Beaoh, (
Received, Hartford, May 23, 1864, from Allyn S. StiUman, N. H. Morgan, and
George Beach, a joint committee of the town and city of said Hartford, on the pari:
of the trustees of the so-called " Larrabee Fund," bequeathed in trust, by Major .
Charles Larrabee, late of said town, deceased, the foUowing notes and evidences of
debt, viz.:
One note, duly executed by said city of Hartford, dated October 9th, 1855, paya
ble on demand to said Ohas. Larrabee, with interest semi-annually (interest thereon
due from Nov. 13', 18'63) for the sum of $2,000.
One other like note of said city, dated May 13, 1856, payable on demand to
said Larrabee with interest semi-annually (interest thereon due from Nov. 13,
1863) for the sum of $1,000.
One other like note of said city, dated June 1, 1858, payable three years after
April 19, 1958, to said Larrabee, or his order, with interest semi-annuaUy (interest
thereon due from November 13, 1863) for the sum of $1,000.
One BANK book. No. 36,362, of the "Society for Savings" of said city, showing a
deposit to the credit of said Larrabee, (on which interest is due from Deo. 1, 1863) to
the amount of $1,71'J.86.
One other bank book. No. 693, of the "State Savings Bank" of Hartford, show
ing a balance of deposits to the credit of said Larrabee (on which interest is due
from Nov. 1, 1863) to the amount of $624.16.
Total principal (interest due not included) $6,342.02.
P. A. BROWN;
Treasurer of the " Larrabee Fund."