Probate of Will

[derekseanbrown]

Can anyone help to decipher the bottom section of this will of 1727 ...especially the added section in the bottom left hand corner(in Latin) referring to probatum? .... It was the will of Anne Brigginshaw(various spellings) and refers to her daughter Mary(who was probably not yet 21 when her mother Anne died) Usually the last section of a will is the Probatum but this uses the word ?icesimo? (what does that mean)

Thank you
Sean Brown

[derekseanbrown]

By the way, Anne Brigginshaw died in 1727 the same year as her will, so what does the 1732? indicate in the bottom left hand added section.

Thank you
Sean Brown

[KGarrad]

Probate wasn't (and isn't!) instantaneous!
It can take years to get all the necessary documents together, and for probate to be granted.

5 years doesn't seem excessive.

[Bookbox]

Essentially, Mary Brigginshaw, the daughter, was appointed executrix of Anne Brigginshaw’s will, but in 1727 Mary was still a minor (under 21), with no legal entity, and could not act. So on 20 October 1727 administration of Anne’s estate (with the will annexed) was granted to the three named guardians/trustees. The marginal annotation shows that Mary Brigginshaw herself was sworn, and probate was granted to her, in London on 5 December 1732, when she had reached full age.

Usually the last section of a will is the Probatum but this uses the word ?icesimo? (what does that mean)

It's part of the date ...

Vicesimo die mensis octobris Anno Domini Millesimo septingentesimo vicesimo septimo ...
On the 20th day of the month of October in the year of the Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty seven (20 October 1727) ...

Probatum is the first word in the marginal annotation.

[derekseanbrown]

Thank you both ......... that has really helped a lot

Thanks
Sean Brown

[derekseanbrown]

Might it be possible then that Mary became 21 around the time of the 5th Dec 1732?.... We have never found her birth date but that could give us a clue.

Thank you
Sean Brown

[Bookbox]

All you can say for sure is that she came of age (21) between 20 October 1727 and 5 December 1732 (but probably closer to 1732).

[derekseanbrown]

Ok thank you. There is a document dated 1729 (an Abstract of all of her estate in Worcester; fields, acres, tenant farmers etc) Would she have been able to have this drawn up if she only obtained probate in 1732?. She then marries in Feb 1732 (we now would call it in Feb 1733 because of the calendar date difference concerning the start of the year) ...

Thank you
Sean

[Bookbox]

Without knowing the background, I should think any of the guardians/trustees (or someone acting for them) might have drawn up an abstract of the estate. It seems to have been held in trust for her until she was 21.