Patrick Sweeney S Last Will and Testament

Patrick Sweeney’s last will and testament

Patrick Sweeney was an Irish born man who lived in Bristol in the early 19th century. He wrote a will before his death, and the wording of it raises some very interesting issues.

The historian who found this document said:“I found this extraordinary document in the Braikenridge Collection of the Bristol Central Reference Library. Purportedly the will of a man convicted of murder, the expressions of self-loathing are so extravagant one wonders if this is a spoof or, even more chillingly, the product of coercion.”

Note to teachers
Two transcripts of the text are provided here. The first version has a table on the right for pupils to explain difficult terms. This activity could be completed individually or in pairs, or with the support of an adult, or as a class activity. The second version has space beside the text to annotate the text.

A ‘Theories and Opinions’ sheet is provided to assist pupils in working out, discussing and recording their ideas. After this has been used, you could use the ‘Additional Information’ sheet, which contains the historian, Madge Dresser’s, comments about the document.

ActivitiesThe transcript of Patrick Sweeney’s last will and testament provides the opportunity to stimulate discussion in connection with one or more of the following:

19th century crime and punishment;
medicine through time and the use of medical dissection;
attitudes to death, remembrance and funeral customs.

Key Questions for discussion

What issues does this document raise?
Why did Patrick Sweeney leave his body to science?
Was he forced to write this will?
What questions might you want to ask historian Madge Dresser?
How could we find out more, and solve the mystery of the last will and testament of Patrick Sweeney?

Patrick Sweeney’s last request

Work out the meaning

Phrase /
Explanation
tho weak in Body, am of sound mind and memory
I give my Boddy to the surgeons and apothecary of the Bristol Infirmary
to be Anatomis’d
no part of my Ugly Carcas to be put in the Earth
Defiling
the night nurse
for the purpose of Cleaning the water Closet
the scullery
my stockings to scour the fire ironts

The last will and testament of Patrick Sweeney of the city of Cork, Kingdom of Ireland

I Patrick Sweeney,
tho’ weak in Body, am of sound mind and memory,
do write this as my last will and testament,

that is to say – I give my Boddy to the surgeons and apothecary of
the Bristol Infirmary to be by them or the young students Anatomis’d and Disposed of otherwise as their wisdom may think fit or as soon as it pleases God to call me, which I hope will not be long, and I do Earnestly request that no part of my Ugly Carcas be put in the Earth for fear of Defiling it.

I do earnestly request that Mr. Morgan apothecary...do become my sole Executor and that he may take upon him the superintendence
of the Dissecting of my Body; this is all I have to say on the part of
my Body---

I further write and so freely give my Old Clothes to the night nurse to be apply’d to the purpose or use of floor or other Cloths for the purpose of Cleaning the water Closet and scullery and my stockings to scour the fire ironts etc. etc.

Given under my Hand and Seal the 9th Day of May – in the year of our Lord 1828
Patrick Sweeney