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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 16:02 GMT (UK)

Title: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 16:02 GMT (UK)
Can anyone help to decipher the bottom section of this will of 1727 ...especially the added section in the bottom left hand corner(in Latin) referring to probatum? .... It was the will of Anne Brigginshaw(various spellings) and refers to her daughter Mary(who was probably not yet 21 when her mother Anne died) Usually the last section of a will is the Probatum but this uses the word ?icesimo? (what does that mean)

Thank you
Sean Brown
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 16:10 GMT (UK)
By the way, Anne Brigginshaw died in 1727 the same year as her will, so what does the 1732? indicate in the bottom left hand added section.

Thank you
Sean Brown
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: KGarrad on Tuesday 17 November 15 17:14 GMT (UK)
Probate wasn't (and isn't!) instantaneous!
It can take years to get all the necessary documents together, and for probate to be granted.

5 years doesn't seem excessive.
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: Bookbox on Tuesday 17 November 15 17:36 GMT (UK)
Essentially, Mary Brigginshaw, the daughter, was appointed executrix of Anne Brigginshaw’s will, but in 1727 Mary was still a minor (under 21), with no legal entity, and could not act. So on 20 October 1727 administration of Anne’s estate (with the will annexed) was granted to the three named guardians/trustees. The marginal annotation shows that Mary Brigginshaw herself was sworn, and probate was granted to her, in London on 5 December 1732, when she had reached full age.

Usually the last section of a will is the Probatum but this uses the word ?icesimo? (what does that mean)
It's part of the date ...

Vicesimo die mensis octobris Anno Domini Millesimo septingentesimo vicesimo septimo ...
On the 20th day of the month of October in the year of the Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven (20 October 1727) ...

Probatum is the first word in the marginal annotation.
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 18:35 GMT (UK)
Thank you both ......... that has really helped a lot

Thanks
Sean Brown
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 18:51 GMT (UK)
Might it be possible then that Mary became 21 around the time of the 5th Dec 1732?.... We have never found her birth date but that could give us a clue.

Thank you
Sean Brown
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: Bookbox on Tuesday 17 November 15 19:23 GMT (UK)
All you can say for sure is that she came of age (21) between 20 October 1727 and 5 December 1732 (but probably closer to 1732).
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 22:31 GMT (UK)
Ok thank you. There is a document dated 1729 (an Abstract of all of her estate in Worcester; fields, acres, tenant farmers etc) Would she have been able to have this drawn up if she only obtained probate in 1732?. She then marries in Feb 1732 (we now would call it in Feb 1733 because of the calendar date difference concerning the start of the year) ...

Thank you
Sean
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: Bookbox on Tuesday 17 November 15 22:47 GMT (UK)
Without knowing the background, I should think any of the guardians/trustees (or someone acting for them) might have drawn up an abstract of the estate. It seems to have been held in trust for her until she was 21.
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Tuesday 17 November 15 22:51 GMT (UK)
Fascinating ....thanks again for your input.

Sean
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: Bookbox on Tuesday 17 November 15 23:02 GMT (UK)
It looks like Mary Brigginshaw was still under 21 in 1731. In that year she was involved with this equity suit ...

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10509968

... when she was described as an infant (= under age) and was represented by one of her guardians/trustees.
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Wednesday 18 November 15 01:30 GMT (UK)
Thanks for bringing that to my attention. On seeing it, I can recognise now that those are the three names you pointed out to me on the Latin section I posted..... Does an equity suit mean they have (legally) fallen out and that Bromley and Nanfan are sticking up for Mary and Margaret against Lutley who has a grievance? ...

Thanks
Sean
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: Bookbox on Wednesday 18 November 15 10:50 GMT (UK)
That's probably correct. One of the three trustees, Philip Lutley, has died, and his widow has a grievance against the other two -- both as individuals, and as representatives of Margaret and Mary. You would have to see the case-papers to find out more.
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Wednesday 18 November 15 11:33 GMT (UK)
Thanks again ... I must visit (discovery national archives) more often.

cheers
Sean
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: Bookbox on Wednesday 18 November 15 11:55 GMT (UK)
TNA Discovery is one of the most valuable online tools for genealogy.  ;)

There is also this, which maybe you've seen ...
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10554591
... and other documents relating to Margaret are at Worcestershire Archives.
Title: Re: Probate of Will
Post by: derekseanbrown on Wednesday 18 November 15 13:16 GMT (UK)
Yes thanks .. I have been going through the Discovery site all morning  :)