E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Misers.
The most renowned are:— (1) Baron Aguilar or Ephraim Lopes Pereira d’Aguilar, born at Vienna and died at Islington, worth £200,000. (1740–1802.)
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(2) Daniel Dancer. His sister lived with him, and was a similar character, but died before him. (1716–1794.)
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(3) Colonel O’Dogherty, though owner of large estates, lived in a windowless hut, which he entered by a ladder that he pulled up after him. His horse was mere skin and bone. He wore an old night-cap for wig, and an old brimless hat. His clothes were made up of patches, and his general appearance was that of extreme destitution.
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(4) Sir Harvey Elwes, who died worth £250,000, but never spent more than £110 a year.
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His sister-in-law inherited £100,000, but actually starved herself to death.
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Her son John, M.P., an eminent brewer in Southwark, never bought any clothes, never suffered his shoes to be cleaned, and grudged every penny spent in food. (1714–1789.)
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(5) Foscue, farmer-general of Languedoc, who hoarded his money in a secret cellar, where he was found dead.
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(6) Thomas Guy, founder of Guy’s Hospital. (1644–1724.)
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(7) Vulture Hopkins.
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(8) Dick Jarrett died worth £10,000, but his annual expenses never exceeded £6. The beer brewed at his christening was drunk at his funeral.
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(9) Messrs. Jardin, of Cambridge.
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(10) William Jennings, a neighbour and friend of Elwes, died worth £200,000, (1701–1797.)
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(11) The Rev.—Jonas, of Blewbury.
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(12) John Little left behind him £40,000, 180 wigs, 173 pairs of breeches, and an endless variety of other articles of clothing. His physician ordered him to drink a little wine for his health’s sake, but he died in the act of drawing the cork of a bottle.
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(13) Ostervald, the French banker, who died of starvation in 1790, possessed of £120,000.
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(14) John Overs, a Southwark ferryman.
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(15) The King of Patterdale, whose income was £800 a year, but his expenses never exceeded £30. He lived at the head of Lake Ulleswater. His last words were, “What a fortune a man might make if he lived to the age of Methuselah!” He died at the age of eighty-nine.
