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OK, I've got the skeleton of my tree, now I want to put leaves on it, and for starters, that means Wills. Now I've looked about and read various things on Wills but I'm still at a loss, and I'm probably missing something very obvious.

I've seen all these things about Wills being proved in the perogative court of canterbury and that 1858 is an important date and all that, but it doesn't really make any sense to me.

What I really want to know is: which people should I look for wills for? how do I go about doing that? and where will I find them? and what sort of finding aids are there?

I have a mixture of ancestors from various backgrounds except rich (although not all were "poor", there are tradesmen, military and the like), so just a general overview would be good, and some advice on which ones to start with to get to grips.

I have an Albert Clark, 27, who's marriage certificate (1897) gives his father's name as Job Clark, Warehouseman, and Florence Clark is a witness. They are in ASton at this time.

In the 1901 Census, I've found Job Clark, 74, Warehouseman living in Aston, with Daughter Florence, 33. He's the only Job that seems vaguely likely, and the place fits, as does the job, daughter, etc.

That's all fine, however, when we try to find him in 1881, or 1891 we come unstuck. Simply put, there is no even vaguely likely job clark in either census (that I've found, anyway).

However, there is this family in 1881, who seem likely, except for the father's name:
 Alfred CLARKE   Head   M   Male   54   Birmingham, Warwick, England   Warehouseman     
 Clara CLARKE   Wife   M   Female   53   Birmingham, Warwick, England       
 Samuel CLARKE   Son      Male   16   Birmingham, Warwick, England   Glass Blower     
 Albert CLARKE   Son      Male   12   Birmingham, Warwick, England   Scholar     
 Florence CLARKE   Daur      Female   14   Birmingham, Warwick, England   Scholar     
 George CLARKE   Son      Male   9   Birmingham, Warwick, England   Scholar 

The father's age and job match, as do florence and albert. The birth places fit as well, but the name, doesn't. MAybe I'm justing wishing this family to be mine, but what can I do to confirm or dispell this idea in my head?

I've found someone who's age is given as 1d, so I think knowing the date of the census would be quite useful

Anyone?

I realised I hadn't posted much specifically about the names I am researching, and thought I should in case it rings a bell with anyone.

Family 1:
WEST, Originally from Fillongley, Warwickshire, my line moved into Birmingham around towards the end of the 19th century. I also think that some of them may have moved to Coventry abit earlier, but not so sure about that. Mainly Ag Labs. Seem to have a few marriages into the PROCTOR family of Fillongley, if anyone is interested in that.

Family 2:
CLARKE, Originally from Gilmorton and the Lutterworth district of Leicestershire, moved to Birmingham in the middle of the 19th century, and had a house decorating business, in Aston. Tended to switch between CLARK and CLARKE back in leicestershire, but the ones that moved to Birmingham have always used CLARKE.  Also Mary-Jane Clarke married Joseph HARVEY, and they had 14 children (so the story goes, I've found 12 so it could well be true). I don't know much about the descendants of these children, but would love to find out more.

Family 3:
CLARK, I distinguish between these families as having an E or not having an E, but that's just to make life easier for me, in reality they used both. Don't know much about this family. Job Clark had a son Albert, I have found Job on 1901, with Daughter Florence, who was also a witness to Albert's marriage. I can't find them further back, although there is an Alfred Clark and Clara Clark, with children FLorence and ALbert (+2) in 1891 and 1881 who I think may actually be my Job. There's a death of Clara on FreeBMD in about 1892, but no death for Alfred, which makes me think it's likely. Oh, and the job is identical in all 3 census's and on the marriage certificate. Ring any bells with anyone.

Family 4:
Should probably actually be on Worestshire board, as they were more from Bromsgrove, but some moved to Aston, so thatwhy they get to be here. FISHER family, James FISHER m. Harriet TILSLEY about 1869, and had some kids (actually, they had one first then got married). Don't know much more at the moment, but haven't tried that much on that line.

Family 5:
SLAUGHTER family of Birmingham. A family of Pork Butchers. George SLAUGHTER married Rebecca SMITH, both originally from Evesham, Worcs, and had about 12 children in Birmingham, almost all of which became Pork Butchers. Two of the daughters married a COPE and a HAYNE, both of whom were Pork Butchers. Also links to the JINKS and HINDS families, and I'm sure you can guess the profession of those ones!