Browsing: Legal Papers of John Adams, Volume 1

13. This and the following citations were written by JA in a heavier hand similar to that in his address, suggesting that these are authorities for his position. The work cited here is William Nelson, Lex Testamentaria 529 (London, 2d edn., 1724), a passage setting out the Statute of Frauds, 29 Car. 2, c. 3, §6 (1677), (No. 16, note 12 7 ), as well as cases on the signing of wills to the effect that under the statute a will need not be signed at the end, and that before the statute unsigned wills could be valid in certain circumstances. One of the cases on the latter point is Stephens v. Gerrard, note 14 note 18 below. JA's spelling, “Gerard,” which is that used in Lex Testamentaria, suggests that the latter work, rather than the report, was his source. See also No. 16, note 7 2 .