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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Lancashire => England => Lancashire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: kazzann on Tuesday 05 February 13 14:19 GMT (UK)

Title: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: kazzann on Tuesday 05 February 13 14:19 GMT (UK)
Is it possible to ask for someone to lookup a will or probate for a "Robert Beesley" who passed away  in September 1846 aged 87 at Sowerby, Lacashire. Buried at Gt Eccleston.
Whether he made a will or had anything to give I do not know!!! I am mainly looking for names of his benefactors... maybe some clues as to his descendants!!!
Thanks again ::)
Kazzann
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 05 February 13 14:32 GMT (UK)
The 1846 death was registered in Garstang which does not cover Sowerby but does cover Great Eccleston

In 1846 - Sowerby was part of North Riding Yorkshire and part of the Thirsk reg district
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Tuesday 05 February 13 14:50 GMT (UK)



Could you mean Inskip with Sowerby, Kazzann ?

Kind regards,

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 05 February 13 14:57 GMT (UK)
Where did you get his age from?  If you have a copy of his death cert - who reported his death?
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: kazzann on Wednesday 06 February 13 09:51 GMT (UK)
Yes, It would be Inskip with Sowerby, that is where he was living during the 1841 census..
No, I do not have the death certificate. I have a typed document of burials from "St Marys" Catholic church, Gt Eccleston. I believe it came from the church archives.
It States (as written)...  1846  Robert Beesley aged 87 died at Sowerby in September, buried at Eccleston.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: sillgen on Wednesday 06 February 13 10:01 GMT (UK)
These links may help

Wills before 1858:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=220

There is also a help guide on the Rootschat London and Middlesex boards (though it is helpful for understanding wills and the process generally)

A GUIDE TO WILLS IN THE LONDON AREA

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,403342.0.html
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: kazzann on Wednesday 06 February 13 14:03 GMT (UK)
Thanks for your suggestions. I went to the National archives and it redirected me to ' Find your past' for wills before 1858. Then i found myself on http://www.origins.net where the national wills index is located.
I'm rather confused, there are so many options... is it best to just start paying subscriptions and see what I come up with?? Or is one source better than another?
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Bookbox on Wednesday 06 February 13 14:54 GMT (UK)
is it best to just start paying subscriptions and see what I come up with??

That shouldn't be necessary for this purpose.

Inskip and Great Eccleston are in the Archdeaconry of Richmond. Probate records for the Lancashire part of that archdeaconry are held at the Lancashire record office in Preston. You should email them and ask them to check their indexes for any will. That sort of general enquiry is normally answered free of charge.

record.office "at" lancashire.gov.uk
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Wednesday 06 February 13 18:10 GMT (UK)




Hi again, kazzann,

I'm assuming the census details below are of Robert in 1841. The reason I ask - I wondered whether an Ag Lab would have had enough money to justify leaving a will ? I've looked and I can't find one. That of course proves nothing if I've found the wrong person.

1841 census :
HO107/501/3, Folio 13, Page 20   

Lancashire
Inskip with Sowerby

Robt Beesley, 84, Ag Lab
Peggy, 80
Jenny, 40, Weaver
Peggy, 8
Robert, 1

All born in county.

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Gibel on Wednesday 06 February 13 19:39 GMT (UK)
Wills proved at the Archdeanery of Richmond are listed in the Lancashire Record Office Catalogue. A quick look didn't show one. Very unlikely if he was an ag lab that he would leave a will.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Wednesday 06 February 13 21:43 GMT (UK)




See what you think to these for their marriage and the children of Robert and Peggy :


Marriage :14th October 1784   
Robert Beesley
Margaret Heaton
Saint Michael On Wyre

~~~~~~~~~~

Birth : 18th January 1798   
Christening   20th January 1798
Alicia Beesley
Parents :
Roberti Beesley
Margaritae Eaton
Saint Mary RC Great Eccleston

~~~~~~~~~~

Birth : 15th August 1802   
Christening : 20th Aug 1802
Gulielmum Beesly
Parents :
Roberto Beesley
Margta Heaton
Saint Mary RC Great Eccleston

~~~~~~~~~~

Birth : 19th September 1804   
Christening   23rd September 1804
Richardum Beesley
Parents :
Roberto Beesley
Margarita Heaton
Saint Mary RC Great Eccleston

~~~~~~~~~~

Birth : 22nd August 1807   
Christening : 23rd August 1807
Jacobum Beesley
Parents :
Roberto Beesley
Margarita Heaton
Saint Mary RC Great Eccleston


Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Wednesday 06 February 13 22:03 GMT (UK)


And there's this :

Baptism: 28th October 1781
Margret Heaton - Bas Daughter of Robt. Beeslay & Margret Heaton
St Anne, Woodplumpton, Lancashire

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Wednesday 06 February 13 22:12 GMT (UK)


Followed by :

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0sud/

Added :

Someone has kindly told me the link doesn't work - hopefully back shortly.

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Wednesday 06 February 13 22:33 GMT (UK)



Click here for Beesley Baptisms. (https://familysearch.org/search/records/results#count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3ABeesley~%20%2Bbirth_place%3ALancashire~%20%2Bbirth_year%3A1781-1820~%20%2Bfather_givenname%3ARobert~%20%2Bmother_givenname%3AMargaret~%20%2Bmother_surname%3AHeaton~)

If you search between 1781 and 1807 for Beesley baptisms with parents Robert Beesley and Margaret Heaton - you should have some success.

https://familysearch.org/

For some reason Family Search isn't allowing me to post a direct link to the search results ?

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: kazzann on Friday 08 February 13 10:03 GMT (UK)
I thought it would be worth a try seeing that his unmarried daughter left a will. Wills can help to unravell so many mysteries. Thanks to  all for your help :)
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Friday 08 February 13 16:39 GMT (UK)

I thought it would be worth a try seeing that his unmarried daughter left a will. Wills can help to unravell so many mysteries. Thanks to  all for your help :)

It's always possible the father of Jane's children made some sort of provision for her ?

You and I share a common denominator within this family - it's just a case of making the connection ! 

:-\

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: kazzann on Saturday 09 February 13 01:38 GMT (UK)
Hi Pets, I do have the will of Thomas Hardiker. He left his effetcst of under 1,000 pound to his sister "Mary Cookson"!!! Can you tell me where you think the connection may be, and I can let you know what documents I have that may help!!! Regards Kazzann!!!
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Saturday 09 February 13 09:37 GMT (UK)



Hi again,  :)

This chap is the common denominator I meant :


(http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=370538.0;attach=360135;image)


I noticed the 'Cookson' relationship on Thomas Hardiker's probate record - it made me even more certain there's a connection, but ...... it's just piecing it all together. Will explain further in my next reply. Hopefully you can see the above image.


Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Saturday 09 February 13 10:28 GMT (UK)



Marriage, 31st October 1785
Bartholomew Hodskinson
Elizabeth Beesley
Saint Michael On Wyre

Since I noticed your query I've been trying to find the relationship between 'my' Elizabeth and 'your' Robert. A Leonard Beesley is the godparent to two of the children resulting from the above marriage. I would like to imagine Elizabeth, Robert and Leonard are siblings from the same family - but with the records the way they are I'm finding it difficult, unless it's just me being not very bright.

Have to credit Simon (Duck) for giving me the most magnificent help. He's the one who spent untold hours at the records office and then took me to Great Ecclestone to see the above grave he'd found !  :) :)

He left his effetcst of under 1,000 pound to his sister "Mary Cookson"!!!

Wondering if Thomas Hardiker was a Roman Catholic, if he wasn't - that might explain why he and Jane didn't marry ??

I also have Cookson's intermingled with this family, better not make it more confusing than I'm already finding it !  ;D ;D

Pels.
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: kazzann on Saturday 09 February 13 14:01 GMT (UK)
Hello Pels,
interesting!!! Yes I have come across the name Hodskinson throughout many of my family records.
Tell me what you think of these records in regard to your Elizabeth Beesley and  Leonard...

From: Return of Papists...1767 living in Woodplumpton

William Beesley   age 70     a tailor
Ann Beesley       age  50    tailors wife
Henry Beesley            35   Shoe maker
Ellen , his wife             39
Henry and Ellens children
William                         8
Robert                         8   (This Robert is believed to be the Robert who married Margaret Heaton in 1784)
Leonard                       7
Elizabeth                      5
John                            3


Seeing that these Papist records came from 1767, and your Elizabeth  married in 1785... it would make Elizabeth a good age to have married!! ie : born 1762... approx  23 yrs of age at marraige!!!
And they have a brother called Leonard!!!! Bingo!!!!! 

Now, regards to Thomas Hardiker and Jane... This had always been my assumption also,,, that he was not Catholic (actually I am fairly certain he was not Catholic), as the Beesley family definatley were very staunch. I can quite easily see that they would not have been allowed to marry unless one or the other converted to the others religion. 
I would love to find more information on his trial in 1841 as it may uncover some of the family prejudices and rivalries.   According to both Jane and Thomas's death certificates... she died a spinster and he died a batchelor... but, sadly, Thomas Hardiker did not recognize any of his children in his will.
It tells me that there must have been irreconcilable rifts that occured (he did go to prison on their behalf... sort of, after all!!!). Funnily enough, when their son 'Robert Beesley" married for the second time (after mother Jane Beesley passed away)  his fathers name of "Thomas Hardicker" was acknowledged on his  wedding certificate which was not proclaimed on his first wedding certificate while his mother was still alive!!!
Anyhow, I would be interested to see what you think about the above, early  Beesley records.
Our family have the verbal stories that our Beesleys link back to the martyr, Blessed George Beesley of "The Hill" at Goosnargh. This my goal,,, to find the connection,
sincerely
Kazzan
Title: Re: request for a will or probate lookup???
Post by: Pels. on Sunday 10 February 13 18:22 GMT (UK)



Hello again Kazzan,

Have to say I'm completely lost for words with this wealth of unexpected information. I certainly didn't expect it - as you say, it all fits together beautifully ! Thankyou very much indeed.

With kindest regards,

Pels. :) :)