Where is this will

[TomFE]

Need help in locating and getting copies of wills for two persons who died in Skelton, Cleveland, Yorkshire. One in 1895 and one in 1870. Also, was it common for women to have wills or just male heads of households in the 1800's?

[SheilaM]

I have recently found a will on the National Archives site.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/

If you are lucky enough to find the will you're looking for you can download a copy for £3.50

Sheila

[arthurk]

The probate records on the National Archives site are for pre-1858 wills and administrations. The probate service was reorganised in 1858, and copies of wills after that date can only be obtained by post - details of how to do this are at http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1183.htm

Indexes of post-1858 wills and administrations can be found in some county record offices and large libraries. There are also some in Probate Registry offices around the country, but in most cases they only have them from around 1930-40, the earlier ones having been passed to the record offices etc.

If using the National Archives site for pre-1858 wills, bear in mind that these records are from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC). Some Yorkshire wills were proved there, but the majority would have been proved in one of the York courts, whose records are at the Borthwick Institute in York.

Arthur

[SheilaMS]

YORK
York Probate Sub-Registry
Castle Chambers
Clifford Street
York
YO1 9RG
Tel: 01904 666777
Email : york.psr@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk 

These wills cost £5