Stratford philanthropist left a bizarre and complicated will

William Battershall lived for 50 years on a farm on the west side of Mornington Street. His house at 362 Mornington St. still stands. Upon his death at age 83 in 1906, he willed to the city the part of his farm that today is known as Battershall Park at 350 Glastonbury Dr. He was a benefactor of some renown because of the unusual and detailed instructions in his will.

In addition to the land for the park, he donated $4,000 to provide suits of clothes for children between six and 11 years of age whose parents were “poor but not paupers.” He did not specify the difference between poor and paupers. The clothes were to be “cheap and good,” and their purpose was to enable their recipients to attend Sunday school.

The clothes were to be distributed annually on the anniversary of Battershall’s birthday. If, after receiving the clothes, the children did not attend Sunday school, they could not partake of the next year’s distribution. Another clause in the will provided $2,000 to be invested for Christmas distribution: “I direct the mayor of the said city, when distributing the said........

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