Maiden Stone said - "I often stray into the wrong century. Common mistake in family history.
Does the preamble to the will mention his state of health? All those for my ancestors begin with something like "being weak in body", even those who survived another couple of years.
What I was considering was why a comparatively young man, in the prime of life, felt it necessary to make a will. Something must have prompted his decision."
Checking on this i've been looking at the National Archives
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_dss=range&_sd=1702&_ed=1739&_p=1700&_q=george+rooke+WillInstead there are several items of George Rooke (1702-1739).
1. Catalogue description.
George con Rooke et al
Reference: PROB 28/26
Description: George con Rooke et al, Date: 1718
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C33015472. Catalogue description
Short title: Rooke v Rooke. Document type: Bill only. Plaintiffs: George Rooke, esq
of...
Reference: C 11/1890/45, Description: Short title: Rooke v Rooke, Document type:
Bill only.
Plaintiffs: George Rooke, esq of Canterbury, Kent.
Defendants: Frances Rooke (wife of said George Rooke), John Ward and Robert Pigott.
Date of bill (or first document): 1734
Note: The naming of a party does not imply that he or she will appear in all the
documents in this cause (after the bill)
Date: 1734
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C104865793. Catalogue description.
Will of George Rooke of Saint Lawrence Canterbury, Kent.
Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers.
Name of Register: Henchman Quire Numbers: 225-274. Will of George Rooke of Saint
Lawrence Canterbury, Kent.
Reference: PROB 11/699/199, Description: Will of George Rooke of Saint Lawrence
Canterbury, Kent.
Date: 26 November 1739
These are free to download: -
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D645238http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D605023