25 People Share Their Most Memorable Inheritances

A recent Quora question posed an intriguing topic: “Has a ‘stranger’ ever left you anything in their will?” This query prompted a flood of responses, unveiling a fascinating array of stories where people received unexpected inheritances from individuals they barely knew or had never met. These stories range from heartwarming gestures to puzzling bequests, revealing the diverse ways in which people’s legacies can touch the lives of others. Here are some of the most captivating tales of unexpected inheritances from strangers that have emerged from the discussion.

#1

Image source: Fran Brochstein, Nina Hill / pexels My friend left me his cats. I take very good care of them. I hope he is in heaven looking down and he’s happy.

#2

Image source: Jim Moore I inherited two of my grandfather's (Charles Brackett) four Academy Awards. One is for best screenplay for The Lost Weekend, and the other is for his service to the Academy as its president. The other two Oscars are with my sister and my cousin. They are for Sunset Boulevard and Titanic (the 1950s version).

#3

Image source: awan001, cottonbro studio / pexels My mum, last week, gave me a silver pocket watch which my grandfather left to me, engraved inside is a retirement message to my great great great grandfather from his employer dated 1849. Pretty cool.

#4

Image source: Xena Lee, Pavel Danilyuk / pexels My great aunt (and godmother) left me a small amount while I was in college, maybe $2000 or so. It was greatly appreciated. Many years later, my father died (my mom was already gone) and my brother and I received equal halves of his estate. He had had a good long life and missed my mom, so he was ready to go. I was the executor of his estate, and it’s was pretty cut and dried except for having to sell his house and that dragged on awhile. Two years ago, my brother died very unexpectedly and I was his executor and sole heir. Again, I had to sell a house, this time five states away. And I miss him every day. I wish I could trade that inheritance for having him back.

#5

Image source: James T. Bawden, Alan Levine / flickr I did receive an inheritance from Mom and Dad. However, I was awfully young when I met a very old lady, who was a relative of mine, from New York. I can not remember her name, as I am sixty nine years old now, and I was less than ten years old, back then. I do recall she was handing out small trinkets and tokens to me, my brother, and my sisters. My sisters each received a ring, or a necklace. My brother received a tie clasp, and cuff links. I received an old watch. The watch wasn’t working. It was broken. I’m certain I had no appreciation for that gift, at the time. It took me some years to understand, these few trinkets were all she had to offer to us, for an inheritance. It’s an old wrist watch. It is still broken. Yet, this old lady boarded a plane…in the 1950’s…and made the arduous trek across these United States…just to give to us children, that what she had to offer. I will never know her name. I believe she was on my paternal side of the family, as I received the watch in the home of my paternal grandfather. But, I treasure that old watch. It was given to me by someone I didn’t know. It was given to me by someone I would never meet, again. I THINK she was my Great Aunt Etta, but I am not too sure. However, I am touched, an old lady who I had never met, wanted to give to me, something I could never use. It was her thoughtfulness for a young relative she had never met, that made this inheritance so meaningful.

#6

Image source: readycent, Artur Stec / pexels my grandfather's grand piano. As young as I can remember, I begged him to let me have it when he was "done with it". When he passed last year, I received the piano and with it came 28 years of memories, love, and wisdom he shared with me. It quite literally represents my relationship with him and I will cherish that forever.

#7

Image source: Matt Anderson, el cajon yacht club / flickr My Grandfather left me his fathers drafting tools from the early 1900s. A full wood boxed set of ink based tools for drafting. He was a civil engineer I am an architect so I know how to use them. I think they were a college graduation present to him in 1904.

#8

Image source: Robert Taylor, Kevin Bidwell / pexels I got my father's hooked nose, beady eyes, and tiny crooked penis. It was the strangest will reading I've ever attended.

#9

My dad's smith and wesson 4516. The gun is older than me and it's never failed. All stainless steel and easy to take a part. I'll never part with it. Image source: 47sams

#10

Image source: Jack Montgomery I inherited, from my grandmother, a pickelhaube helmet. Judging by the date imprinted on it, it was constructed, or issued in 1914, to a man named C.E. Juncker. Or maybe that is the company that constructed it? I really wouldn’t know, all I know is that it was bought in a thrift store by my great-grandmother in the 1950s. I also know that my grandmother, while she was in high school, wore it as she cycled around on a tricycle at a house party. My Pickelhaube looks near identical to this, except the Eagle is the same color/material as the spike and mine is just a tad more run down. Other than that, its probably the coolest thing I’ve ever inherited, especially because I am a military helmet collector.

#11

Image source: John Flavin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff / flickr A couple of weeks ago some of us Neeners were discussing family members who'd been in WWI. My grandfather was part of the expeditionary force sent to Europe in 1917. He was assigned to a machine gun crew. His entire squad was gassed by the Germans during the war. He recovered but could only speak softly. I received his dog tags and a pocket knife. I was the youngest grandchild, still in short pants when he died. I like to think I inherited his love of animals and sense of humor. Both of these are less tangible than perhaps money but of more value than Swiss Francs.

#12

Image source: Daniel Woodbridge I was left,a small,dilapidated cottage, a small cross dog,and £3k when I was 14 year old. From a retired school teacher, who lived down the lane,from my parents. I had avoided her,and her cottage as much as possible when she was a live,because other children told me she was a witch, and believe me,everything seemed plausible, when your 6 years old walking down dark lanes,in the winter, I was always petrified for years,I use to bolt pass her cottage. Now her little dog,( Ruby) was a frequent unannounced visitor to our house,and I was always given the job of returning her to old ( Mrs Gillespie) That was the only times,I reluctantly spoke to her,she use to grab my jumper sleeve and pull me into her kitchen, I was powerless,against her strength especially as I was holding Ruby by a bit of string. The kitchen was dark,damp,out dated,and had strange odours ,and presevering jars ,full of all sorts.

#13

Image source: anon, Pixabay / pexels A walnut. My grandfather, who died long before I was born, carried it round in his pocket so he had something to fidget with. It was never explicitly admitted but the inference is he had stress issues after the double whammy of being at the Somme in the first world war, and an air raid patrol warden during the second. It's nearly black and worn smooth, more like a pebble now. If I'm doing something important I put it in my pocket for luck.

#14

Image source: Lisa Corbett, puuikibeach / flickr The very best and the one thing that is my most prized possessions, my father's Stetson hat that he always wore. The thing that means the most happy about it was that I came out to him 2 to 3 months before his passing and he made sure I knew that he loved me no matter what and then to get the one thing that meant so much to him made me cry my eyes out. It is taken care of and means more to me than if I had got $10,000 cash. I feel so loved every time I see it and I know he is still with me. Money is gone in a heartbeat that hat will last a lifetime. I miss you dad and thank you for accepting the daughter you only found out about right before you passed on, I will always love you.

#15

Image source: Michelle Gaugy, Anna Shvets / pexels I have inherited no things, no objects of any value whatsoever. My family had no material wealth. However, from my mother I have inherited two qualities that have been invaluable to me throughout my life. My mother was a saleswoman. In the early days, she sold a variety of things - plastic products, cosmetics door-to-door, the toughest kind of selling there is. Eventually she graduated to b-to-b, and after that, insurance sales, primarily annuities to teachers. She was always successful. People trusted her - because she was trustworthy. She taught me, first, that whether you like it or not, people will always judge you by how you are dressed, therefore be mindful of that fact; and second, that determination is more often than not, what determines. These two lessons, which she taught by words, but more truly by actions throughout her life, have marked me indelibly, and I have inherited them. Most days, I dress well, and indeed, it has been my experience that it affects how I am perceived and welcomed into the world, both publicly and privately. And I am focused and resolute in anything I commence. This has rescued me from many distractions over the years and kept me on track. Still does. Thanks, Mom. And thank you, Stephen, for the compliment of the A2A.

#16

Image source: badgrammared, Thomas Quine / flickr My grandfather gave me a German Iron Cross from WW1 that was brought home by his uncle.

#17

Image source: anon, James Jordan / flickr A gilded concert pedal harp. It was left to me by a friend of our family who was a professional harpist.

#18

Image source: Angela Carleton, Elizabeth Tamara / pexels My mentor left me a set of wood castanets which I kept for a long time as a reminder who he was to me for so many year.

#19

It's not mine yet, but my grandma has a sword my grandpa brought back from Japan. It even still has the imperial chrysanthemum stamped onto the blade. She says it's mine someday because my interest in history. Image source: anon

#20

Image source: Keshri My mother before passing away gave me a coin with both side as Tail. She told me; my eldest brother (born on 15 August, Named as Aazad) died in her lap because the hospital denied service for just this 1 rupee.

#21

Image source: anon, Karol Carvalho / pexels Not me, but my brother. He's a musician and band director, and has been playing piano since he was 8. He knows that he will eventually inherit the piano he learned on, which is still in our Mom's living room. When our grandmother died, he got the piano from her house, intending it for his daughter, who had just been born. When he went to move it, he found the bill of sale tucked in an envelope on the back of the piano. The date on the receipt showed that it was originally purchased exactly 40 years to the day before his daughter was born. She learned to play on it, and now has a Masters Degree in Music Education and teaches at a local high school. That piano is in her house.

#22

Image source: Caliblair, Thomas Quine / flickr Two dressers that are both over 150 years old. No screws or nails and marble-topped.

#23

Image source: Alan, Calmuziclover / flickr I had a friend who I met whilst we both worked in a care home we got on well and saw each other away from work visiting each other etcetera he retired and I lost my job he invited me to his for Christmas after the new year I was expecting to go home I lived in a rented flat he had a bungalow he asked me if I was willing to stay he had COPD and needed help I would bathe him take him out in a wheel chair his elderly uncle also lived there and cooked our meals after a few years my friend got shingles then he got sepsis and he stopped eating and passed away he left me and his uncle the right to live in his bungalow for the rest of our lives only bills to pay no rent it be was written in his will that until we pass away no one can contest it the uncle died a few years ago a day before he became a 100 yr old after I die the bungalow will go to his daughter both of them also left me some financial help also I feel greatful that I went from a unemployed man living in a basement flat to living in a lovely two bedroom bungalow I am so lucky to of known them as friends and they both ended up showing me that they appreciated my help and have helped me have a positive outlook on my future I didn't inherit the bungalow but have the next best thing a nice home.

#24

Image source: whoismadi, Stephanie Young Merzel / flickr Not mine personally, but my family has been passing down the same bible since 1886. It has a ton of cool things in it like a report card from the 1890s, original newspaper clippings from when WWI was declared, ads from the early 1920s, etc.

#25

Image source: lonelyoboe, Freebird / flickr My grandfather's 1961 acoustic Gibson guitar. It's amazing. It may not be worth millions but it's more sentimental to me than the money I'd get for selling it.