Death duty registers say WHO got what rather than the will where the deceased say who they would like to get what etc... obviously wills don't include the solicitors fee and taxes. Death duty files can stay open for years until all finances are cleared and the tax man has had his last penny.
The date 1943 as the last year on the National probate index is pure fluke. It happened because the NA filmed the archives held at one of the local records offices and that was the last date they had there.... no other reason
Pre-1858 the NA has the PCC (prerogatory court of Canterbury wills) but wills were held by the church and not all wills ended up in the PCC
so you need to check local records offices if they hold any pre-1858. There are rules to where these wills are held but its a bit complicated. There is a small blue book called Probate Jurisdictions:where to look for wills by Jermey Gibson and Else Churchill that gives lots of details on where to look for wills. costs about 4.50 from FHS bookstalls
where did I get this info, from a chap from the NA who gave a talk on it today at the WDYTYALive Exhib in Olympia today.
