wills

[mahees]

How do you find/obtain ancestor's wills? I'm thinking particularly 19th century to early 20th century in the North of England. Are poor people from the 19th century likely to have made wills?
Cheers
Erin

[uk2003]

Hi Erin

Dont know if they go back that far, but I have had some success using this site/form

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/courtfinder/forms/pa1s_0405.pdf

Regards
Ken

[mahees]

Thanks Ken
I'll take a look 

[mshrmh]

Erin, there's a guide to wills on the Family Records site at
http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/topics/wills.htm
Basically for England pre1858 wills were proved in church courts, post 1858 in civil courts. The link Ken has posted will apply to post 1858 - earlier they're usually to be found at county records offices - though as you mention North of England I think Yorkshire wills are at the Borthwick Institute.

If it's post 1858 all wills are listed in an annual calendar, which covers those proved in a calendar year and gives some basic details (name, date of death, address, executors and value of estate). Also listed are similar details for estates where there was no will where letters of administration have been granted ("admons") - at different times these have been in separate books or all mingled. Fiche copies of the calendar are usually at county records offices and sometimes at other archives and also at the National Archives (Kew). For the most recent 50 years they will be at the various local probate offices (listed on the courtservice website).
Your profile doesn't say whether you're in England - if not the courtservice do postal searches(post 1858) anyway, in the price. However I understand they're typically taking 1-2 months.

[mahees]

Thanks for the info, mshrmh.
I am indeed in Yorkshire, but having read the Borthwick info it seems wills were only dealt with there until 1858, and after that it went through minor probate courts. I did a search on national archives for the people I'm after, but there was no results.
I think my Leeds ancestors were very poor, so I don't know whether they would have had wills. I don't know if it was common in those days. If anyone could tell me what the likelyhood it'd be helpful.
The form that Ken gave me says that the fee for searching is non-refundable in the event of a negative result, so I'm reluctant to do that. The only index I have found is on National Archives, ,and as I said, that came up negative.
Thanks for all your help
Erin 

[LizzieW]

Erin

As I said on another topic (can't find it at the moment), I found the Probate Calendars in my local reference library.  They are all there from 1858 on microfiche, so you could try your library.

National Archives only shows earlier wills as far as I can see.  I found my g.grandad's will on microfiche at the library, but it doesn't come up if I search National Archives.

Liz

[LizzieW]

Erin

Found the other topic on the Probate Calendar

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,229711.

Liz

[mahees]

Thanks Lizzie,
Leeds Central Library is fairly comprehensive so I'll give it a shot.
Cheers
Erin 

[SooCatt]

What are probate calendars?    Are they the same as an index of wills?

Susan