Wills?

[Jeanie with one n.]

Where is the best place to look for wills. I need an index for my one-name study.
I tried a2a by putting in Brewerton wills but it brings up random stuff.
Many thanks
Jeanie

[Elizabeth Herts]

Here's a start from the National Archives Documents on Line facility:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Search Results

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Search Results

[Jeanie with one n.]

Many thanks Elizabeth,
will look now.

[Olde Crone Holden]

A2A is now defunct - it has merged with TNA and now brings up, as you stated, RUBBISH!

*Sobs - I LOVED A2A*

OC

[KiteRunner]

Jeanie, some counties have their own separate online will indexes; usually the best way to find them is to google name of county and wills.

[Mary from Italy]

It's perfectly easy to search for wills on TNA, OC. Just use the quick search box here:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Wills

[Mary from Italy]

Most counties don't have will indexes online, unfortunately.

For wills after 1858, when the TNA index ends, the FMP death duty index is a good starting point. It goes up to 1903. After that, you'll need the National Probate Calendar, which isn't online.

[KiteRunner]

It's perfectly easy to search for wills on TNA, OC. Just use the quick search box here:

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Wills

That will only find the PCC wills, though, won't it, Mary? But there is also the catalogue for local archives which used to be accessed via A2A and is now searched on TNA, and lots of wills held by local archives are listed on there, and not on Documents Online.

[KiteRunner]

If you look up each county in the Wiki I bet there will be various will indexes listed in there too.

[Glen in Tinsel Knickers]

A2A is now defunct - it has merged with TNA and now brings up, as you stated, RUBBISH!

*Sobs - I LOVED A2A*

OC

OC

you pointed me towards A2A many moons ago, have you found the A2A advanced search via TNA?

I still pull up all the same results as the old site using the advanced search..

The National Archives | Access to Archives

[Mary from Italy]

That will only find the PCC wills, though, won't it, Mary?

Yes, sorry, I always forget to say that.

But there is also the catalogue for local archives which used to be accessed via A2A and is now searched on TNA, and lots of wills held by local archives are listed on there, and not on Documents Online.

I can't say I've found many wills that way, although the occasional one has turned up.

[Olde Crone Holden]

I think what I find so annoying about the switch from A2A to TNA, is that on the old A2A you could practically read the whole of the Will in the description, particularly very old Wills. You also got those held in private collections which was nice and handy.

TNA seem to have done away with all but the two first lines - no doubt to make you buy it instead of having a free read.

You could try searching Lancashire REcords Office catalogue - they have a good few wills listed.

I just find TNA impossible to search. It makes no logical sense to me and I get lost and fed up!

OC

[Val and George]

I just find TNA impossible to search. It makes no logical sense to me and I get lost and fed up!

Me too OC - I come out in a cold sweating just considering going onto that website.
Why oh why can't they make it more user friendly!:(

[Caroline]

Several links on this Wiki page:

Wills and Probate - Family Tree Forum

Buckinghamshire and Gloucestershire Records Offices have online databases which are listed on the Wiki County pages.

Oxfordshire FHS has a collection of transcribed wills. There will be others, but these are ones I have used.

A search of Genuki for "wills databases" brought up all these references:

Search GENUKI plus

A search of our Wiki for "wills" brought up these references:

Search results - Family Tree Forum

[Elizabeth Herts]

Jeanie, there is just one Brewerton will in the Surrey Wills Index:

Names Mentioned

[Jeanie with one n.]

Many thanks to ever one for their input and suggestions.
Am busy for most of the day but will have a good look this evening.