 Griswold claimed that " among the last requests of Mr. Poe " was that he become his literary executor " for the benefit of his family " . Griswold claimed that Poe 's aunt and mother @-@ in @-@ law Maria Clemm said Poe had made such a statement on June 9 , 1849 , and that she herself released any claim to Poe 's works . And indeed a document exists in which Clemm transfers power of attorney to Griswold , dated October 20 , 1849 , although there are no signed witnesses . Clemm , however , had no right to make such a decision ; Poe 's younger sister Rosalie was his closest next of kin . Although Griswold had acted as a literary agent for other American writers , it is unclear if Poe really appointed Griswold his executor ( perhaps as part of his " Imp of the Perverse " ) , if it were a trick on Griswold 's part , or a mistake on Maria Clemm 's . It is also possible that Osgood persuaded Poe to name Griswold as his executor . 
