George S Sawyer b 1845 and Maria Amelia Sawyer b 1855

[jillyinnes]

I am trying to find anyone researching the above couple. George was born in Massachuets, USA in 1845 and moved to England in 1880 where he died in 1926. His wife, Maria Amelia, was born in Berlin, Germany about 1855. It is more Maria's side of the family I am searching for but I can't find anything on her. I don't think they had any children.Can anyone please help?

cheers
Jilly

[Manchester Rambler]

If you haven't already done so, a good way to make surname connections with other members is to enter your surname interests in the Surname Interests Table (SIT), and to check there whether others are researching these names. 

This can be found at http://surname.rootschat.com/ , there is a link to it under "Your Tools" at the bottom of each Rootschat page.

The more people who enter their surnames, the more chance there will be of making a connection!

[jillyinnes]

What a great page . . . . but unfortunately, no connection for me.
I'll keep an eye on SIT in future though.

Thanks.

[lizdb]

He left a Will by the look of it.

Probate Index entry

George Sawyer of 9 Eastlake Road Camberwell Surrey died 27 Feb 1926 Probate to Marie Amelie Sawyer widow Effects £4594 17s 4d

If there were no children he may of course just leave all to his widow, but you never know, you may find other family members mentioned.

Marie also leaves a Will, and hers may be a better one to get, as with George already deceased it will be interesting to see who she leaves her estate to. The executors are not obviously family members.

Probate index entry
Marie Amelie Sawyer of 9 Eastlake Road Camberwell Surrey widow died 2 March 1936 Probate Arthur Whale company director and Violet Florence Harvey spinster Effects £3982 14s 1d

[jillyinnes]

That certainly taught me a lesson - I hadn't looked for a will or probate but will do so in future searches. Actually I am trying to locate descendants, not ancestors, as I have something I would like to have returned to Maria's family - if I ever find anyone. I've found probates for George and Maria but no actual will. Am I not looking close enough?

The person mentioned in Maria's probate, Violet, was called a housekeeper in censuses but I have a feeling she was more than that as she was referred to as Violet F Harvey Sawyer, but I don't think she had any children. Her probate states two men as executors. Does being named in the probate mean she was recipient of the inheritance? I can't find Violet's will either.

Do you know if there is a similar site like Rootschat in Germany?

Cheers
Jilly

[lizdb]

Probate is granted to Executors. These are named in the Will, appointed by the deceased. They are the people who then have the legal responsibility to carry out the bequests in the will. They are not necessarily beneficiaries of the estate.
To see who were the beneficiaries of the estate you need to purchase a copy of the actual will.
I will try and find the link and put it on here for you to see how to do that (The process changed fairly recently and I havent had occasion to get one since the change, so am not up to speed with it!)
Someone else may put the link on here quicker who has it to hand!


PS -re Rootschat in Germany -
Rootschat is worldwide, so THIS Rootschat covers Germany!  There is a board for Europe, somewhere



 

[lizdb]

Here we are

Wills:

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#calendar


And Rootschat Europe Board

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/europe/