How to search for Wills ?

[shanew147]

I believe that other than a small number of exceptions, only a few abstracts and index lists survive for pre 1922 records. Detailed calendars do survive from the 1850s onwards.



Shane

[ambyrne1]

Guys,

Maybe I was incorrect but I did get my 1818 Will in Dublin from the National Archives and it was listed in their books.

Anyway for Wills from 1484 to 1858 you can do a search on the Irish Origins Website which will list what wills are available in that timeframe in the National Archives and it gives you the reference number for these... There are quite a good few still available.

Ann Marie

[shanew147]

here's a link to the notes on the Wills index on the Origins website, that Ann Marie mentioned :

  http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutio-wills2.htm

quote 'The vast majority of Ireland's testamentary records (wills, administrations, probates, etc.) were lost in destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland (PROI) in 1922 - but not everything....'

there's also a list of the various types of documents (Original, Transcript, extract etc) see :

   http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutio-wills-status.htm



Shane

[eadaoin]

It's several years since I looked at the various family wills still available.
I can't be sure, but I think I had to order them the day before or phone 2 days before - they were stored in the Four Courts, and those ordered were transported each day.
I don't know if this is still the case.

eadaoin

[Swy47]

Thanks i've managed to order two of them. The older ones a bit tricky to find. I'll keep searching. Tks

[Quaxer]

Shane's No.9 is perfectly correct
At the risk of seeming testy it is ,in my opinion absolutely necessary  to have here precise questions and responsive answers otherwise we will face the type of question requesting on half a sheet of paper a detailed listing of all the documents in the National Archives. When responding last night I was aware that at least 3 vols. of transcribed wills for the Dublin District Registry from 1869-1901 survived the explosion and fire in 1922 but deliberately did not refer to them as I did not know what year the 1897 will was admitted to probate. If during 1902 or after it might have survived the disaster being in the District Registry and not in the PRO.
Over 300,000 wils were destroyed in 1922 and while some attempt over the years has been made to find copies of these world wide(or abstracts) by many bodies readers should realise that the results are not in a perfect alpha order in one depository but are scattered.
Grenham'sTracing Your Irish Ancestors contains a useful listing of Irish Wills but i'm sure that he would be the first to state that as soon as it was printed it was out of date.

Regards        Quaxer

[annieoburns]

The NA have a series of index books, one for each year, ordered alphabetically for person's name but dated from when the probate was granted so maybe it is in following year  after death, or maybe several years later!  But for my lot they were about 6 weeks or so after the death.  These reference books are on open access in the main reading room.  With the details obtained from the index, a form is filled out and smallish amount of money for each one (few euros?) paid over.  The photostat copies of the wills were then posted out to me so saved a further trip into NA.  Good service

[JMCDONALD_IE]

Tks, mainly looking for copies of the following wills. All dublin area but no idea were to look for records.

Alexander Sweeney, Great Britain street, died 14 Dec 1897
Alexander Sweeney, Marlborough street, died 14 May 1913
Charlotte Sweeney, Marlborough street, died 13 Nov 1920
Elizabeth Sweeney, great britain or parnell street, died 12 Nov 1935
Elizabeth Sweeney(Lily) Dublin, died 21 June 1982 (approx age 76)
Alexander Sweeney, st john court, Donnycarney, died 30 Jan 1990

Hi there @Swy47 I am not sure if there is another way of contacting you here or if you are still active on this forum. I am a great-great granddaughter of the above Charlotte Sweeney (nee Callan) and her first husband John McDonald. Would be great to exchange emails and share any information we may have! Thanks