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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: PENLEE on Friday 16 October 09 00:06 BST (UK)

Title: Wills
Post by: PENLEE on Friday 16 October 09 00:06 BST (UK)

I have the death certificates of my great, great grandfather and of his wife, (who was his second wife and his first cousin) and I am trying to find their wills or trying to find whether they died intestate. One died in Wiltshire and the other in Berkshire. I have looked on-line at both the Berkshire and Wiltshire Record Offices, also I sent off to the main Records Office.  I have drawn a blank.

Please could someone give me some advise as to where I should look next.  My great, great grandfather was a farmer and they were fairly well off.

Penlee.

Title: Re: Wills
Post by: Billy Anderson on Friday 16 October 09 01:35 BST (UK)

Hi Penlee,
If you can tell us theirs names it might help us find their wills,
kind regards,Billy.

Title: Re: Wills
Post by: PENLEE on Friday 16 October 09 08:13 BST (UK)

Hello Billy,

Their names are

Isaac Mathews died 15.5.1881 at Bromham, Wilts. Retired Farmer. Aged 80.

Elizabeth Mathews died 28.3.1885 at Woodspeen, Speen, Newbury, Berks. Aged 85.

They were of a Berkshire farming family and they moved to farm in Wiltshire after their marriage

which was when they were in their 40's.

Thank you for your help.

Penlee.

                               

Title: Re: Wills
Post by: maidmarion on Friday 16 October 09 09:46 BST (UK)

Hi penlee,
Take a look at this link for wills post 1858.
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1226.htm

maidmarion  :)

Title: Re: Wills
Post by: PENLEE on Friday 16 October 09 19:47 BST (UK)

Hello Maidmarion,

Thank you for this link which I shall look at.

Penlee.

Title: Re: Wills
Post by: Luzzu on Friday 16 October 09 22:27 BST (UK)

Hi,

I recently asked for advice on looking for wills and my thread is on the Common Room board.  This is the link if you would like to have a look.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,410944.0.html

I have managed to find that two of my 2 x gt grandads left wills and I have just sent off to York for copies.  They are only £5.00 each.  They will do a search (for wills after 1858) which also costs £5.00 and includes a copy of the will if they find one - you lose the fee if there is no will.  There is something called a probate calendar which is held at Record Offices.  If you can check this it will tell you if there is a will and then you won't spend £5.00 for nothing.

Best of luck,

Luzzu

Title: Re: Wills
Post by: PENLEE on Saturday 17 October 09 22:58 BST (UK)

Hello Luzzu,

Thank you for your information.  I looked at Find My Past but my ancestors were not there unfortunately.  I shall work through the links I have been given and hopefully I shall find them.
 They must be somewhere.

Penlee.