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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: BigSlick on Thursday 18 June 09 18:54 BST (UK)
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Anyone know what the significance of a stamp on a will with the words "One Penny Sheet" is ?
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Don't know if this is correct, but stamps were (are) printed on sheets of paper. There may be 24 stamps to a sheet (just a guess). Maybe the ancestor was left a sheet of Penny stamps? Depending how old the stamps are, would depend on the value. If the stamps are old, and the Will recent, it could be worth some money.
English Penny stamps were the first produced in the 1840's with Penny "Blacks" (colour of stamp) being very collectable these days, especially if still uncut in a full sheet.
Les
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BigSlick, when was the will drawn up and/or probated please?
charlotte
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Did you mean there is a postage stamp stuck on, with the words written over it?
or are the words stamped on, as with a rubber stamp?
Maybe you could scan the will and post a picture . . .
Mike.
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Did you mean there is a postage stamp stuck on, with the words written over it?
or are the words stamped on, as with a rubber stamp?
Maybe you could scan the will and post a picture . . .
Mike.
I think perhaps Mike you are thinking of Stamp Duty? Legal transactions such as selling property (without an intermediary) could be done by signing over a stamp of a certain value. Not sure whether stamp duty applied to wills though. Sometimes the stamp could be embossed on the document I believe.
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Does the stamp look like the example below? It is on a Bond the administrators had to sign for a person who died intestate in 1840, and shows the Stamp Duty has been paid.
:)
K.
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Sorry for the delay, I have attached a snippet showing the graphic from the 1741 Will. I have read through a bit since my last post and I don't think it was worth anything, so why do a will?
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Looks to me like the administration of someone who died intestate (without making a will) enabling the widow or whoever to carry out probate.
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Hi Bigslick
The image you have posted looks very much like the Bond (obligation) that I have. In my case my gggg-grandfather was appointed as the administrator for his brother who had died without leaving a will. He had to swear an affidavit that his brother had died and that he would make a 'true and perfect inventory' of his brother's goods and chattels to be presented to the court so that probate could be granted. He would have to pay £400 pounds if he didn't provide a fair and honest inventory ... and the procedure included having to pay thee-halfpence stamp duty/tax on the sheet of paper it was all written on!
In your case, one hundred years earlier, the Anne and John Chester were bound for £27, and the stamp duty was one penny.
Does that make sense? Had a relative of Anne and John died without making a will?
Koromo
:)
(Snap, Graham! I took too long writing my reply — got distracted. ;))
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Its a bit legaleeze for me, here is the rest, Ann died in 1743, don't know about John yet.
Would appreciate confirmation of who does what in the thing and if in fact it is a will. Thanks
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Here's the equivalent from 1892 after the introduction of stamps.
(http://usera.ImageCave.com/km1971/Death certificate.jpg)
This is on an original death certificate from the records of an army pensioner in the National Archives. The man died in the workhouse, so I wonder if the Workhouse Superintendant, the Coroner or the Births and Deaths Registrar ended up paying the stamp duty.
Government departmnts used special overprinted stamps for use for official business, so the staff did not steal post office ones.
Ken
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It is not a will because early wills begin with a pious opening IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, then goes on to say they are of sound mind and of good and perfect memory etc. This format continued into the 19th century. Where there was no will letters of Administration were used to obtain Probate and discharge the effects of the disceased. They began with the words:'Know all men etc.' It is however useful to find an inventory with the Admon.
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It is not a will because early wills begin with a pious opening IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, then goes on to say they are of sound mind and of good and perfect memory etc. This format continued into the 19th century. Where there was no will letters of Administration were used to obtain Probate and discharge the effects of the disceased. They began with the words:'Know all men etc.' It is however useful to find an inventory with the Admon.
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It is not a will because early wills begin with a pious opening IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, then goes on to say they are of sound mind and of good and perfect memory etc. This format continued into the 19th century. Where there was no will letters of Administration were used to obtain Probate and discharge the effects of the disceased. They began with the words:'Know all men etc.' It is however useful to find an inventory with the Admon.
Thanks very much for the explanation, does it say who died?
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The deceased was Wm Chester late of Waltham.
Anne Chester was his wife/widow/relict.
:)
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Yes, William Chester late of Waltham and the widow and relict (usual legal term) is Anne Chester. Anne Chester and John Chester, carpenter were bound by this obligation (The letters of administration) to the Lord Bishop of Leicester. I imagine this is Waltham on the Wolds, Leics. Pipped to the post again!
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The deceased was Wm Chester late of Waltham.
Anne Chester was his wife/widow/relict.
:)
Thanks all much appreciated
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Yes, William Chester late of Waltham and the widow and relict (usual legal term) is Anne Chester. Anne Chester and John Chester, carpenter were bound by this obligation (The letters of administration) to the Lord Bishop of Leicester. I imagine this is Waltham on the Wolds, Leics. Pipped to the post again!
So if Ann is the widow what is she to John?
my pedigree has Ann Yerby married to John Chester and his father is a William. I hope my pedigree is'nt wrong :o
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Could it be a son or else a brother-in-law?
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Could it be a son or else a brother-in-law?
Thanks Graham, I will continue researching.