The Daily Dispatch: February 2, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Donation of $60,000 to support Indigent "Spinsters,"

--A benevolent and eccentric maiden lady, Miss P. Townsend by name, died recently in Boston. In her will she leaves $20,000 to the Home for the Relief of Indigent Females in Boston, and $60,000 to be applied to the support of those females who, in legal phraseology, are called ‘"spinsters,"’ or single women. She says in her will that she belongs to the sisterhood, and is in duty bound, as she has the means, to procure them a shelter from ‘"the world's dread laugh,"’ and a quiet home. The recipients are to be such as are reduced by poverty, not crime; to be Americans and born of American parents; they are to be of the virtuous poor of this description, who are single from choice or necessity. She says the number will always be large of those who are too old or too feeble to labor for their support, and have outlived their friends, and trusts they will find the home a happy asylum. She also leaves $20,000 to another home for destitute females, and $20,000 to the President and Fellows of Harvard College, for the benefit of indigent students. Neither did she forget the ministers, for Rev. Dr. Dewey is made happy by the receipt of $5,000, and the same amount falls to Rev. Dr. Francis; Professor in the Divinity School of Cambridge.