Wills

[Orangeblossom]

I'm a little confused about Wills.

I have been given information that a Will was put into Probate in 1753. I had a look on the National Archives site, but it's not there.

Where could I find a copy of the will?

Also, how much time between death and probate usually passed? I have a possible Will for a man who died in 1786. The will is dated 1808. Is it likely to be the right one?

I have also downloaded one and can barely read it lol
Is there a special skill involved in that? I will try again in the morning when my eyes are working properly.

Thanks.

[Harrys mum]

Tracy...I've a few old wills. I found them on Lancs will search site. I think there are a few other places. Have you googled wills + the place?

[Harrys mum]

The reading is hard at times. Oddly, my very early ones have been easier to read than the TNA ones post 1850s.

I'm sure people will help with decoding it.

[Grampa Jim]

You should find a copy at your County Archives. You can photocopy them too to take away and translate later.

I should have said at the County Archives of whichever County the person lived in.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Not all early Wills are at County Archives.

I have several which are still held by the consistory court which proved the Will. Some of these courts are hundreds of miles from where the deceased lived!

Can you not ask the person who told you about the will?

OC

[Orangeblossom]

Thanks all.

OC, I will email her, but I thought I'd ask you knowledgeable lot more about it while I was thinking about it.

[KiteRunner]

Also, how much time between death and probate usually passed? I have a possible Will for a man who died in 1786. The will is dated 1808. Is it likely to be the right one?

Usually it only took a few weeks or months, but there were always exceptions. So I would say, not likely, but possible.

TNA site has a tutorial in reading old handwriting:
The National Archives | Palaeography tutorial (how to read old handwriting)

The more of those old wills you read, the easier it gets!

[Anne in Carlisle]

I have the will of an ancestor who died in 1785 and the will was proved in 1804. I think they just kept it until another death in the family forced their hand.

I didn't believe it was the right on either at first but it deffo is!

Anne

[Phoenix]

There are arcane rules governing which church court your will was proved in pre 1858. As OC says, it may not be in the most obvious place. It will be based on the diocese and that is not necessarily the county - hence Wiltshire RO holds wills for several counties and rural Surrey wills are at the LMA. However the county record office should be able to tell you which courts an ancestor's will might have been proved in. There is usually a choice of three or four, depending on how wealthy they were. Increasingly, at least the catalogues are online.

[Vicky the Viking]

I've got a will that was proved in 1832, the chap died in 1808. The delay I suspect was mainly because his chief heir & executor - his YOUNGEST son - was under age at the time he died. The will only got proved after the son himself died. (There is an admon for 1808 appointing guardians for him.)

These were from Durham (they are in the university library). Conveniently whoever catalogued them had cross-referenced the documents, or else I might have overlooked the documents from 1832.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Yes, I have a will proved eleven years after death - the widow hung onto the assets until her hand was forced by her (hurried!) remarriage.

Another died in 1819, intestate. Admon was granted to the widow, who couldn't be bothered with it all, and admon was regranted in 1831. She then died and admon was granted yet again, along with the execution of her own will, which was haggled over for years, because she was willing property from her husband's admon, which hadn't been executed!

OC

[Orangeblossom]

Thanks all

Am busy trying to decipher the 1808 will and I've come across a few children who aren't on my list. Still not sure if this is the right guy or not - I can't read his wife's name lol

Can anyone read this?


I thought it might be Harriet, but my Thomas' wife was Elizabeth.

[Mary from Italy]

Rachel?

[KiteRunner]

Yes, looks like Rachel to me too.

[Orangeblossom]

Ahh, that would fit with a marriage on the IGI.

Thanks