About

In September of 1870, Esther Hill Hawks became one of the first female physicians in the city of Lynn, Massachusetts. She died on May 6, 1906, and left much of her estate to charity. Article Second of her will created a trust which, after the death of her husband and certain others, and the expiration of the essay contest period (all of which have occurred), provides in clause (g):

“I give my Trustees full power at their discretion from time to tome to contribute part or all of the net income of the trust fund in any year to the funds of any institution, or organization, whether incorporated or not, whether charitable, educational, or for the moral betterment of young persons of either sex or both sexes. The Trustees are requested, during each year to expend the rest of the net income not required for the purposes set forth in the above clauses, and the whole thereof, after the termination of the annuities above named, at their discretion at their discretion [sic] in assisting young persons of either sex, to be selected by my Trustees, to gain an education generally or in any special line, or assisting them in any other way to better fit them to become good citizens; such beneficiaries I prefer should at the discretion of the Trustees be residents of Lynn. The contributions to societies as above named shall be to those carrying on their work in this Commonwealth.”

By decree dated August 9, 1982 of the Probate Court, distributions are restricted to public charitable purposes. In recent years this has been mainly in the form of scholarships (not exceeding tuition and fees) to graduating Lynn High School seniors for full-time college attendance, and renewals of such scholarships in subsequent years.