Wills for East Sussex

[MattD30]

Hi Matt
Yes that last column number is the number of the original will for any particular year. They may be written on the wills and/or there may be a card with the will that has the number.
But they are also indexing the register copies of those wills on that film. With probably the same reference, more or less, as is on The Keep.

As far as I know The Keep website doesn't index original wills per se, though it does have some unregistered wills. (In contrast, the Essex RO website indexes the originals and provides images, but not the register copies)
But I am not really sure that there is a reference for each original will?

You could have a read through/download this, but it probably won't help a lot!
Register of pre-1858 probates; volume 35, Sussex
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/195110-register-of-pre-1858-probates-v-35?offset=14

Now if we could see the originals of the PCC wills at home it would be good
Berkshire Wills Index - I did not know this was online, no idea at all
https://www.berkshirerecordoffice.org.uk/wills-index

John

Hi John

I've been using the index of wills which you directed me and have found it to be very useful in helping me locate various original wills. I have noticed that some wills have a hand written number on the left side of the page by the surname which appears to be the will number so those have been easy to locate.

I have also noticed that some wills do not have any numbers noted against them and I wondered if you had any idea how I could locate these in the film.

The following page gives you an example. On the right hand page of the image shown [page 71 of the book] there is a reference to Edward Lyndfil of Bolney dated 1565. Can you suggest how I might find this (or any other wills in the index without a note of the will reference number) in the filmed wills at FamilySearch?

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRLS-YYN?i=49&cat=498353

Many Thanks in advance

Matt

[Little Nell]

Matt,

If you check the information on what wills are included on the FS website, you will see that 1565 is not included in the film.  Sadly in the 16th and early 17th centuries, there are some gaps in the film records.  I can't find some of mine, however many times I scroll through every frame just in case I have missed it.

Nell

[MattD30]

Matt,

If you check the information on what wills are included on the FS website, you will see that 1565 is not included in the film.  Sadly in the 16th and early 17th centuries, there are some gaps in the film records.  I can't find some of mine, however many times I scroll through every frame just in case I have missed it.

Nell

Hi Nell

Many thanks for that, I realised that particular year was missing from the list on the FS website after I posted the message. I gave that year as an example though as there are other wills I have found in the index where the year does appear to be on the film. If the years in question for those are on the FS website list I'll post a new amended message.

Thanks again

Matt

[MattD30]

Hi Matt
For the 16th century wills you need that book on the start of the film, which begins with Archdeaconry of Lewes Wills,  Book A1 1541-49
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRLS-5JN?i=13&cat=498353

So these are register copy wills that we can't see at home on FamilySearch, but they are on there, locked up, Register copy wills, v. A1-A3 1541-1559 Film 97231 DGS 7904065

As we can see from on film 1885593, early original wills, there aren't very many in A1 that survive.

Now, important news. You can download that whole book via FamilySearch Books
I have shrunk the link, you may need to sign in again?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pj6/

Sixth from left at bottom, click on print or download files (Download: FL107458_TN-212898.pdf)

I'm afraid I don't know of any index of inventories other than by searching The Keep.
John

Hi John

Thanks again for those which have been very useful. I found the indexes at the start of the film very useful but hope you can give me some advice. I have noticed some of the wills have hand written numbers next to them on the left hand side which appears to be the will number. This has made these easier to find.

On the left hand side here there are two wills for the surname Ashdowne

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRLS-1MH?i=60&cat=498353

The will for John Ashdowne has a "19" next to it so this should be easy to locate, however underneath this will is a will for William Ashdowne with no number noted against it.

On the link at the following page the index is slightly different. Listed under the number 121 it reads
"Ashdowne, Thomas - Rotherfield - 16"

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRL3-S9Z?i=153&cat=498353

Again do you have any idea how to locate wills from these type of indexes? Is there a short cut way or is it just a case of trawling through the images for the year in question?

If you look at image 113 below you will see a reference to Leonard Morley on the right page. I have managed to find this will by chance when looking at the film for 1627 but there seems to be no reference number on the will linking it to the reference on the index.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DRLS-5SK?i=112&cat=498353

Hope you can help
Best Wishes

Matt

[jonw65]

The will for John Ashdowne has a "19" next to it so this should be easy to locate

Hi Matt
Yes, well done, you have discovered that someone at the LDS has annotated the book with the original will numbers. Which I hadn't noticed. Mind you, I don't often need to find a will that far back! They seem to have done this for wills from 1570 to 1616.
So that is a difference perhaps to the downloadable version? I shall have to recheck.

So going to the film which ends with original wills 1573-79, you are right, it is easy to find will number 19 of John Ashedowne in the 1578 bundle.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1HS-JQ1?i=667&cat=685691

This will be a boon to those looking to see if an original will is available on the films for the years in question.

I would think that if there is no handwritten number in the book - as for Wm Ashedowne, 1579, there will be no surviving original will. Obviously we could test that by looking at the 1579 wills on the same film, though I am going to assume it for now!

Again do you have any idea how to locate wills from these type of indexes? Is there a short cut way or is it just a case of trawling through the images for the year in question?

If you look at image 113 below you will see a reference to Leonard Morley on the right page. I have managed to find this will by chance when looking at the film for 1627 but there seems to be no reference number on the will linking it to the reference on the index.

If I have it right they only have annotated with the will numbers up to 1616
At any rate, they haven't for these wills for 1627-9. Why the date cut off, I have no idea. It doesn't help us of course, the only consolation is that by then the survival rate of the original wills is probably greater. And so yes, you will have to trawl through the film in question in the hope you will find it. Perhaps the wills will be arranged by probate date, as they usually are for later periods, but perhaps not.
Good luck!
John

[MattD30]

The will for John Ashdowne has a "19" next to it so this should be easy to locate

Hi Matt
Yes, well done, you have discovered that someone at the LDS has annotated the book with the original will numbers. Which I hadn't noticed. Mind you, I don't often need to find a will that far back! They seem to have done this for wills from 1570 to 1616.
So that is a difference perhaps to the downloadable version? I shall have to recheck.

So going to the film which ends with original wills 1573-79, you are right, it is easy to find will number 19 of John Ashedowne in the 1578 bundle.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1HS-JQ1?i=667&cat=685691

This will be a boon to those looking to see if an original will is available on the films for the years in question.

I would think that if there is no handwritten number in the book - as for Wm Ashedowne, 1579, there will be no surviving original will. Obviously we could test that by looking at the 1579 wills on the same film, though I am going to assume it for now!

Again do you have any idea how to locate wills from these type of indexes? Is there a short cut way or is it just a case of trawling through the images for the year in question?

If you look at image 113 below you will see a reference to Leonard Morley on the right page. I have managed to find this will by chance when looking at the film for 1627 but there seems to be no reference number on the will linking it to the reference on the index.

If I have it right they only have annotated with the will numbers up to 1616
At any rate, they haven't for these wills for 1627-9. Why the date cut off, I have no idea. It doesn't help us of course, the only consolation is that by then the survival rate of the original wills is probably greater. And so yes, you will have to trawl through the film in question in the hope you will find it. Perhaps the wills will be arranged by probate date, as they usually are for later periods, but perhaps not.
Good luck!
John

Hi John

Do you know if the index books at the start of this film are available anywhere online to download? I have a lot of Sussex ancestors and it would be useful to sit down with a downloaded version and check through it.

Matt

[jonw65]

Hi Matt
Yes the book at the start of the film which has the older wills (and administrations) indexed can be downloaded from the Books part of the FamilySearch website.
It may not have those annotations discussed earlier.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pj6/

John

[MattD30]

Hi Matt
Yes the book at the start of the film which has the older wills (and administrations) indexed can be downloaded from the Books part of the FamilySearch website.
It may not have those annotations discussed earlier.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01pj6/

John

Thanks for that John. Even if this doesn't have the annotations that are included on the Familsearch website one it will be useful as I can check through it then cross refernce the entries with those on FS.

Matt