Lack of addresses in PCC will

[gazania]

I have a PCC will dated 1779 & probated London 1780.  The testator's occupation and London address is given as was that of the Executors.  He mentions several relatives including my direct ancestor.  However the only other address given is for his brother, who is living at St Johns, Yorkshire.

My questions is: can I assume that all the other relatives named were living in the London area and thus known to the Executors?

The Executors appear to be friends/business colleagues.  Thanks, Gazania

[Little Nell]

can I assume that all the other relatives named were living in the London area

Might not be wise to assume anything 

and ... known to the Executors

That's more likely if the executors were family members but not guaranteed.  I have a will, slighter later date than yours, but while it names a shed load of people, no addresses.  The testator lived in Sussex.  Some of the beneficiaries lived as far afield as Australia and from what I can piece together, it took the solicitors the best part of 15 years to get it all sorted out.  One letter to the solicitor gives the addresses and relationships of some of the people named .  Makes me wonder how much there was left to distribute!

Nell

[pinefamily]

I have often wondered how they went about tracing beneficiaries in those days, and to what lengths before they stopped searching. And then what happened to that particular bequest if the beneficiary was not found.