Author Topic: How to find a Last Will and Testament  (Read 972 times)

Offline Silver Threads

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How to find a Last Will and Testament
« on: Tuesday 06 October 15 10:04 BST (UK) »
Hi everyone,  I am trying to find the last will and testament of one of my ancestors who died in 1804 could anyone point me in the right direction to do this.  thank you :D

Offline KGarrad

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Re: How to find a Last Will and Testament
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 06 October 15 10:08 BST (UK) »
It rather depends on when he died, and where.

See here for guidance for England & Wales (after 1858):
https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-or-administrations-after-1858/
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline Silver Threads

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Re: How to find a Last Will and Testament
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 06 October 15 10:13 BST (UK) »
sorry he died in 1804 in South Devon:D

Offline KGarrad

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Re: How to find a Last Will and Testament
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 06 October 15 10:32 BST (UK) »
Wills for people who died before 1858 were dealt with by a church court.

I would first look at Devon Archives.
http://www.devon.gov.uk/locating_wills_and_admin.htm

If the will was dealt with by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, then you need to look at The National Archives:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-or-administrations-before-1858/
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)


Offline Pennines

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Re: How to find a Last Will and Testament
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 06 October 15 10:38 BST (UK) »
Am I allowed to say that a searchable Devon Wills Index exists on Find My Past?
Places of interest;
Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Southern Ireland, Scotland.

Offline KGarrad

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Re: How to find a Last Will and Testament
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 06 October 15 10:59 BST (UK) »
Of course you are! :-)

I should also mention that the vast bulk of the original Devon wills and administrations were destroyed during the Second World War, when Exeter Probate Registry was bombed by the Germans during the Blitz of 1942. Therefore, Exeter Probate Registry now only holds original wills and administrations dating after this. - See more at: http://www.devon.gov.uk/locating_wills_and_admin.htm#sthash.TiqhfpMp.dpuf
Garrad (Suffolk, Essex, Somerset), Crocker (Somerset), Vanstone (Devon, Jersey), Sims (Wiltshire), Bridger (Kent)

Offline Pennines

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Re: How to find a Last Will and Testament
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 06 October 15 11:08 BST (UK) »
KGarrad ----What a useful and informative website you have provided! Also - I had no idea that the Genuki Devon page had all that information. Well done the Devon Genuki volunteers.

(Genuki information can vary so much from county to county -- so it really is worth exploring the links given on each county page, just in case some little gems are hidden away in it's pages).
Places of interest;
Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Southern Ireland, Scotland.