The Virginia Gazette

In a private Letter from Edinburgh we hear, that the following most remarkable Story happened there: An old Woman who was reputed a Miser, being very anxious to know how her Effects would be disposed after her Death, provided she should not make a Will, fell upon the Scheme of counterfeiting Death. She communicated the Secret to her Maid. who readily embraced it, and gave it out that she was dead; the Apparatus being finished, a great many Relations assembled, who waited impatiently for her Death, and began to talk very freely about her Affairs, one claiming one Thing, and another another, 'till at last her Patience being quite exhausted, she could no longer contain her Rage, at hearing her Effects disposed of so contrary to her Inclination, and rose up immediately, telling them, that she would prevent their Designs by making a Will, which produced so terrible a Consternation in the Company, that some screamed out, and others fainted away.