Where to look for a will for someone who died in 1806?

[SiCallear]

Advice required on how/where to search for a will for someone who died in 1806?

I am trying to establish whether a Fielding Best Fynney is connected to my tree and wondered if his will would help shed some light.

I have previously been recommended and used the government probate website but notice it does not go far enough back in time.

I believe FBF died in Nottinhgam.

Where could/should I search?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[groom]

This any good?

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-and-probate-before-1858-further-research/

[pinefamily]

Depending on the value and extent of his holdings, either the local record office/archives, or the larger body. Off the top of my head, I'm not sure if Nottingham is covered by Canterbury or York.

[goldie61]

Hi SiCallear

I have a lot of Fynney/Finney ancestors, and have tried before to find the will of Fielding Best Fynney. He was a prominent man, and there is lots about him on the www.
I have been unable to find his will though. He is not one of my direct ancestors, so having tried all avenues on-line, I didn't go any further (too much else to do!).
I have looked at National Archives site but it doesn't appear there, or at Borthwick Institute (York).
The other main place is Lichfield Record Office, but their on-line wills index only goes up to 1760.
My next avenues, (if I ever have spare time and not doing my own research!), was (a) to ring Lichfield RO, who will have a look for you to see if it's there, and (b) ring Nottinghamshire Record Office to ask them if it's there.
As I said, there is a lot of information about him on the www, but nobody seems to have found his will.
From a tree I have seen, he seems to have had 5 children - Augusta born 1777, died aged 5, and Samuel Best Fynney born 1779, died 1819, married 1804 Leek. Alfred Augutus born 1782 died 1818, Aldred Caesar born 1786 died 1788, and George Adolphus born 1788, died 1809. (The 'tree' I have is a bit difficult to follow, so there may be more!).
There is a large brass memorial to Fielding Best Fynney in Cheddleton church - this is Staffordshire, although he is supposed to have died in Nottinghamshire, hence the need to widen the search for his will. The border is pretty close there.
THere are many Finney/Finney families around that area, and much published information about them way back - pretty much all stemming from a William Fynney/Fynes who moved to Staffordshire from Herstmonceaux Sussex in the 1500s it appears.
Good luck!

[SiCallear]

Thanks Goldie.

I made a second post yesterday (John Fynney (d.1828) - links to Hulme/Johnson/Bowers/Koziah) which relates to trying to understand my Fynney connection. Maybe it is worth you taking a peek to see if there is a connection to yourself.

[BumbleB]

"Nottinghamshire formed an Archdeaconry in the Diocese of York, but records of the Archdeaconry and for the large Peculiar of Southwell have long been separated from the main diocesan collection at York" - from a FFHS guide on BTs and Marriage Licences.  I would think that this applies also to pre-1858 wills.

I'd suggest that you contact Nottinghamshire Arhive Office.

I'm going to Lichfield Records Office today, so I'll check the Wills register there - as suggested by goldie61.

[ShaunJ]

Death announcement and obit from The Gentleman's Magazine:
https://goo.gl/hH1kfe

There is a notice to Debtors and Creditors in the Staffordshire Advertiser of 4 May 1805 (page 1). All of his assets had been assigned to trustees for the benefit of his creditors, so it is possible that there were no probate proceedings.

[smudwhisk]

Many of the Lichfield Wills are viewable on FindMyPast, although whether the dataset is complete remains to be seen. They are scans of the Wills or Admons, not transcripts, and indexed.

[BumbleB]

There is no evidence of a will at Lichfield Records Office, sorry.  The wills on FindMyPast are Consistory Court wills, not the Peculiars.