Genealogy Chat

HI
I am still finding my way around the tools of infromation collecting and this thread is really interesting, however can someone please explain how you first find out if a relative actually had a wil?
Many Thanks

Nudge up

For Liz.

Apparently Ancestry has added a lot of London Wills and Probate 1523-1837 today.

Thanks for changing that Jonesey.

Thanks for the info, price and link amended in the first post.

Jonesey, if you change the first post, the link needs to change as well.
This is the current one I think:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/courts-and-tribunals/courts/probate/family-history.htm

Ken

Jonesey, would you like to change the cost on the front page, please?

From 4th April, the fee increased to £6 and cheques should now be made payable to HMCTS.

Nudgin'...

thank you for your kind offer Jonesey, PM sent.

My ancestor was very rich, unfortunately my line was the black sheep of the family and he is the only one not mentioned in the will.

In short I do not know what level of Ancestry is used by the libraries. If they do have a version that enables you to look you need this database:

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1861-1941

Can you go to the library to look on Ancestry to see if your ancestors left a will, if so do you just put the name and date when a person died and does it then say if there was a will

Linda,

If the will was proven in England between 1860~1941 details of the total value of the estate may be on the probate calendar which is on Ancestry. If you would like to send me a PM giving me details of his name, where and when he died I will take a look for you.

N.B. The probate calendar only gives basic info such as where and when the person died (Sometimes their home address as well if different), when the will was proved, who were the executor/administrators of the will and the value of the estate. It does not detail who were the beneficiaries and what they were left.

Like yourself I too have a copy of my 3 x Great Grandfathers will. He died in 1839 and was quite a wealthy man who owned numerous properties in Suffolk. The will is hand written in Old English Secretarial Script with very little punctuation and is very difficult to read. My favourite part is where it is written, "To my beloved wife Sarah I bequeath all my wines, beers and spirits" He sounds like my kind of man. Sadly as he had 13 children who survived him, once distributed, his wealth was spread very thinly and none of it reached me. (lol)

I have a copy of my great x 3 Grandfathers will, unfortunately I can't make much sense of it. He was very rich and left lots of stuff to his children and grandchildren. Is there anyway of finding out how much it was? I only have UK ancestry so can't search the wills on there

n
i think its time to put this where people can see it

lorraine

Nudgin'...

Thanks Chris I now have it on my threads

Nudgin' up...

Can you check this out at your local library...if so what does it show for the wills? does it tell you everything that is on the will or is it just broken down.you then order the certificate to see it all, is that right?