St.David's Abstract of wills

[Janealogy]

Family search " Beta" has now on line St David's abstract of Wills. Some years are missing, however a huge help in research.

https://www.familysearch.org/
Click on Europe

This will take you to Historical Records Collection

Scroll to the bottom of the page to Wales

Click Wales Probate Abstracts or Browse images

Llandaff  and St David's is shown 1773-1780

Once you click on which ever Diocese St David's start from 1564 - 1836 ( with some years missing)

If you look at the National Library of Wales probate records and find the date, place name etc. The abstracts can with time be found. The first three pages of the year are Introductions etc. After which are the names and place. after this " Just Brilliant" if you have hours to kill! - Gives a list of every person named in the wills for that year.
Beneficiaries, Tenants, Debtors, witnesses, executors etc.

Remember you have to take into account these extra pages eg, Will numbered 1 - may start on page 32.
Once you have done some searching, you will pick up approx where to start.
Happy Hunting.
Jane

[Orielbenfro]

Why not go straight to the National Library of Wales website who hold the wills and bypass the middleman;

http://cat.llgc.org.uk/cgi-bin/gw/chameleon?skin=profeb&lng=en

I will warn all that there are anomolies between the original "Blue Book" Wills index of 1554 to 1858 produced by the NLoW and the same information produced on the website.

Some wills in some years are double index'd therefore give the appearance of not being listed, whereas they are listed under a different number. If anyone meets such a problem, let me know I can assist to resolve.

A further apparent little known NLoW database which can throw up some interesting items  can be found at ;
http://www.llgc.org.uk/php_ffeiliau/sf_s.php

Rgds
Orielbenfro
ORIEL a welsh window on a surname

[Janealogy]

Hi Oriel,

I find in some earlier wills due to the handwriting at times very hard to transcribe. I find these abstracts valuable to compare my notes and what I have interpreted to what is written in the abstract.

I have mentioned in each year there is an index of all names in the abstracts. When I am searching the abstracts I do look at the surname index. Admittedly if your looking for a common surname, makes it difficult. I have found some little gems, then check back with the original. Someone who may be collecting “One name Studies”.

Some NLW images of wills on line are missing for what ever reason ( name is shown but no image), or the SD index number is out by one, ie click the link and another will is shown.  Wrong image can be found.

I do enjoy the Crime & Punishment! Index.javascript:replaceText('%20:)',%20document.postmodify.message);
Regards
Jane