Charles Vance Millar, lawyer, millionaire and his unusual Will after his death

When I arrived at the tiny Burdick Cemetery in Elgin County, southwestern Ontario, I was aware that I was about to visit the person responsible for Canada’s most bizarre legal stories.

The cemetery, founded on October 3, 1828, began when Methodist clergyman, Reverend Caleb Burdick donated a portion of his farm for burial purposes. Before passing through the iron gates, I noticed a plaque mounted on one post reading: “Burdick Cemetery, Improved in 1927.” On the opposite post was another inscription: “In Memoriam, Chas. Vance Millar, 1854–1926.”

The cornerstone commemorates the financial contributions of Charles Vance Millar, including funds he bequeathed in his will to ensure improvements to this historic county cemetery. Yet, as I stepped inside and began looking for Millar’s grave, it became clear that his true legacy lay not in stone—but in one of the oddest wills ever written.

As you can see in some photos the grave monument of Charles V. and his family is starting to lean and will topple if not reinstalled (bottom middle photo is the best example). 

Charles Vance Millar was a wealthy Toronto lawyer, businessman, and notorious prankster. A lifelong bachelor with no heirs, Millar delighted in mischief, and his will ensured that his final joke would be his most elaborate.

Among its many peculiar clauses were the following:

O’Keefe Brewery shares he had as a minority shareholder and director of the brewery:

Millar left O’Keefe Brewery stock to some Methodist ministers and temperance advocates. 

Gambling Assets to Anti-Gambling Activists:

Millar left shares in a Jamaica racetrack to prominent Toronto temperance advocates who were outspoken opponents of gambling.

Vacation Property to Enemies:

He bequeathed a vacation home in Jamaica to several individuals who despised one another, stipulating that they must share ownership.

No Favours for Close Friends or Family:

Millar intentionally avoided leaving significant gifts to his closest companions or relatives, preferring instead to unsettle and amuse.

But the most famous—and controversial—clause became known as “The Stork Derby.”

Millar directed that the bulk of his estate be awarded to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children in the ten years following his death. All children had to be legitimate, a condition that ignited years of legal battles, moral outrage, and international media attention. The clause alone made the will infamous around the world.

When the ten-year period ended in 1936, no single winner emerged. Instead, four Toronto women tied, each having given birth to nine legitimate children during the contest period. The courts ultimately ruled that the remaining estate should be divided equally among them. Each woman received approximately $110,000—or approximately C$2.46 dollars today.

Charles Vance Millar died on October 31, 1926, after collapsing on a Toronto streetcar while returning from his office. He was 72 years old.