Last Will and Testament of Anne Lister
Anne Lister (1791–1840)
Last Will and Testament
Ink on parchment, 1836
Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, a wealthy landowner, and her life partner, Ann Walker, are sometimes considered to have had the first lesbian marriage in Great Britain. They secretly exchanged vows in 1834, two years before Lister had this parchment document created to leave her considerable estate to: "my friend Miss Ann Walker who is now living with me at Shibden hall." The will's decree caused some familial consternation. In 1843, three years after Lister died, Walker was declared mentally ill and forcibly removed from the premises.
The true nature of Lister and Walker's relationship became public knowledge only when Lister's secret-coded diaries were translated and published in the 20th century. A fictionalized depiction of their relationship is the premise of the recent BBC/HBO television series, Gentleman Jack.
Holding Division: The Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle
Catalog Record: View Record
Digital Collections: View Record
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries.
