Mr. Stead's Will

The Times (Tuesday, June 11, 1912) p. 11

The will has now been proved of Mr. William Thomas Stead, proprietor of the Review of Reviews, who died on April 15 in the wreck of the Titanic, aged 63. He left estate, "so far as at present can be ascertained," of the gross value of £13,000. The executors of his will are his widow and his daughter, Miss Emma Wilson Stead. The will, dated July 8, 1911, is written in his own hand on both sides of a single sheet of paper of quarto size, and says:—

"I give and bequeath all my property (1) in the Review of Reviews of London and Australia, and (2) my interest in the American Review of Reviews, and (3) in all properties, literary or otherwise, held in my name, including all books, magazines, or pamphlets, the copyright of which is mine, and (4) in all moneys accruing from insurance policies taken out in my name or held by me, and (5) in my interests in the patents taken out by me for the Hawkins Propeller, and (6) in the freehold house and land at Holly Bush, Hayling Island, and (7) in all bank balances, investments, moneys due to me on loans, or advances at home or abroad, and (8) in all descriptions of real or personal property, books, manuscripts, and furniture of which I am now or may hereafter become possessed to my beloved wife Emma Lucy Stead."I hand over for examination all my private papers, manuscripts, letters to or from myself; automatic writing diaries and everything of an auto-biographical or private personal interest to my eldest daughter Emma Wilson Stead, commonly called Estelle, to be dealt with by her at her sole discretion."

A codicil alluded to as containing his wishes regarding the use of the property left to his wife and daughter was apparently never made. It cannot he found among his papers, either in his usual depositories or in the hands of his solicitors, according to an affidavit made on the matter and filed with the will.