Lichfield Record Office - wills

[goldie61]

Hi
IS there anybody going to the Lichfield Record Office soon and could possibly look at the wills index?

I'd like to see if there is a will for THOMAS GILMAN.

There are two possibilities.
One buried 24 th April 1817 aged 63.
One buried 6th April 1818 aged 76.
Both at Sheen Staffs.
I think probably both farmers.

Sorry can't get there - overseas, and these dates seem to fall between any on-line indexes.
Also any other Gilmans pre 1800 if anybody can possibly spare the time - most probably Thomas and Isaac.

Many thanks indeed
 

[BumbleB]

If no-one else can do it in the meantime, I can go there in a couple of weeks' time.  I'm afraid I'm completely tied up for the next two weeks, but after that I'll go for you.

[goldie61]

Thanks for the offer Bumble B.
I have now actually found them. I rang Lichfield Office about something else, and the nice lady there looked them up for me!
They did both leave a will - next step to send for them from Lichfield.

I might contact you again as I have some other things to try and find out at the Lichfield Office - wish I could get there! It's always SO exciting to look at all those old documents!

Thanks again for the offer of help
 

[BumbleB]

Not a problem - just let me know.  And, yes, the people at Lichfield are always very helpful, which is one of the reasons I SO enjoy visiting.

[goldie61]

Hi BumbleB
Gee I wish I could get to Lichfield – I ‘ve found so many things I want to look at! And, having been in contact with them, it’s going to cost me a small fortune to view everything from afar.  By far the easiest (and cheapest) is to go in with a digital camera and take photographs!

Can I take you up on your kind offer to look at a few things for me? I’m hoping you have a digital camera! I can send you the fee for taking photographs of course, which I understand is £6.50 for the day.

I have a couple of (old – I see they are dated 1982!!) photocopies of marriage allegations and bonds. I’d love to get a new photo of them – and especially of the seals that the parties have used next to their signatures.

They are:
6.7.1809 John Rogers marriage to Hannah Burnet at Grindon Staffs.
Seals John Rogers and Thomas Burnet.
9.5.1799 George Finney marriage to Elizabeth Harpur at Etwall Derbyshire.
Seals George Finney and Joseph Hellaby. – I think there are seals – it is sort of blanked out on the photocopy I have.

While you’re in that file, could I ask if you could look up some more marriages to see if there’s any paperwork there for them? – and take photos if there is.

They are:
26.3.1849 William Finney marriage to Elizabeth Gilman at Alstonefield Staffs. I have the certificate for them – it says by licence. As they are both over 21, I’m wondering why.
21.8.1826 George Finney marriage to Jane Hayward at Thorpe, Derbys – she is one of my brick walls – I’m hoping her father might have signed the application for a licence.
9.5.1799 Thomas Finney marriage to Ellen Peake (or Peate) at Etwall Derbys.
5.1.1699 Thomas Fynney marriage to Phaunia (Fawnia) Bramwell  at Great Longstone (?) Derbys.

I have others, but I don’t want to take advantage of your kind offer! If this is way too many, please feel free to not do them! – I’ll be happy with anything you can do.

Many thanks again
Goldie

[jc33a]

Hi Rootschatters from Australia, I am doing some research on the Benyon family of Berkswell, Warwickshire. Their descendants include two US Presidents (William & Benjamin Harrision) several signatories of the Declaration of Indepence and five generations of MPs in the British House of Commons (down to Richard Benyon MP, a junior minister in the Cameron Government).  I am trying to work out if this fascinating branch is linked back to the main branch of Benyons in Shropshire, whose ancestry has been traced back to the old Welsh, Irish and English kings.
Two key wills link the Benyon and Higginson families of Berkswell (both on the PCC database): Thomas Benyon (1608) and his father in law Thomas Higginson (1573). The latter will mentions "Thomas Benyon son of John Benyon my son in law". I am not sure if this is the father of the later Thomas or another Thomas altogether and want to have a go at tracing that John Benyon.
The Lichfield Wills Index has three  wills for John Benion (1597, 1600, 1601) and three administration (1604, 1608, and 1614) as well as a will for a Thomas Higginson (1583) which I hope might reveal something of the Benion's origins. It is needle in haystack stuff, but as the family line is historically significant, I am hoping some kind soul might look them up on the next visit to Lichfield.
To order the will from Australia is rather a tall financial order for a hunch on an item of academic historical interest not on my direct family line.
Can anyone help?
John Cherry
Brisbane
Australia

[BumbleB]

Hi Goldie and John:  apologies for the delay in responding - I've been a way for a few days doing a bit of my own research in Yorkshire. 

I'll go to Lichfield next week and see what I can find for you both.

Sue

[goldie61]

Thanks Sue!

[jc33a]

Thanks heaps Sue. I hope something turns up on the Benyon/Benion family - it would be nice to finally join up the dots. John