If there's a will is there a way?

[Jill Eaton]

I found a probate record on Ancestry for my gt grandmother Hannah Williams:

"WILLIAMS - Hannah of 32 Barking Road, Essex. Widow died 23rd March PROBATE LONDON 18th April to city-missionary and Susannah Williams spinster Effects £1745"

With this information would I be able to locate a will and buy it? I know Hannah was a practicing Catholic so leaving some money to a priest doesn't seem that odd. What is odd is that if I have the correct Hannah Williams, is that she had two daughters of her own so who is Susannah Williams? Would it give some detail of her identity on a will? her address, perhaps age?

And would £1745 have been a significant amount of money in 1899 is left by a supposedly poor widow?

Any response to these questions gratefully received 

[KGarrad]

Use the Government website, not Ancestry!
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

Once you have found the probate, use the details to order a copy of the will.
Costs £1.50 if I remember correctly!

[Galium]

There seems to be only one death of a Hannah Williams registered in Essex in 1899 - March Q West Ham district. She was 68.  The will itself is unlikely to give any age.

Susannah Williams is the executor, who may or may not be a beneficiary. The will might tell you that she is a friend, or sister-in-law, and may give you an address for her.

[JenB]

There is a very possible candidate for the other executor, David Thomas, city missionary.
He is living on Tottenham in 1901 with a wife and three children, so most unlikely to be a Roman Catholic priest.
The City Missionaries were mostly laymen.

[Bookbox]

And would £1745 have been a significant amount of money in 1899 is left by a supposedly poor widow?

You can easily find out for yourself a general idea of values by using the National Archives Currency Converter ...

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter

Select the year 1900, enter £1745, and click Show purchasing power.

She doesn’t look like a poor widow.

[brigidmac]

What were her daughters names ? Were they married at the time ?

Definitely worth following up the advice to obtain wills I only learnt to do this recently
Wills can be very interesting

[Bee]

Effects £1745 would this have been actual money or the value of her house & belongings as well?

[Bookbox]

For a death after 1 January 1898, the valuation should include real estate, as well as personal effects, cash etc.

[Bee]

For a death after 1 January 1898, the valuation should include real estate, as well as personal effects, cash etc.

Thank you