Dorset Wills.

[Galium]

Hi Paul, I've just noticed this thread, and wondered if you wouldn't mind having a look to see if there are any testators named GRANDY (Or possibly GRUNDY) listed in your book? 

[Paul Caswell]

Sorry Gallium, no Grandy's or Grundy's. 

Paul

[Galium]

Thank you for looking    .

[AngelaR]

Hi Gallium

No Grandy's or Grundy's in the 1821 to 1858 index either, sorry. There's a batch of Gundry's though - could your people have had that spelling? They're mainly from Bridport

Angela

[Galium]

Thank you for taking the trouble to look,  Angela.  The Grandy family I am interested in go back to a James Grandy c1599-1689, who lived in Poole.  His son and grandson were both named William, and lived in Longburton.

 I have the will of the younger William, whose sons died without issue. (I am descended from one of his daughters).  I would have expected there to be wills of James and William senior, but I don't know where they might be.

There are later Grandys in Dorset, in Sixpenny Handley, but not my direct line.  I don't think Gundry would be the same name, but you never know.

[MattHeckford]

Hi Matt,

I'm quite sure the 1776 is the year.

Good luck in Dorchester. I've never made the trip myself. One day I will.

Paul

Hi Paul

Just thought I'd let you know that I have spent the day at the records office in Dorchester. Fantastic day! Found out quite a fair bit. Think I'm going to be going there pretty often now

You were right the 1776 was the year and the 26 was the 26th entry for that year. It wasn't a will but what they call a Administration. It also turn out that it wasn't the Samuel I was after but a Samuel from later on in the family.

I had a bit of bad news, I found out that all the parish records from Bere Regis before 1788 were lost in a fire (really beginning to get fed up with fire lol). However there are some records for for the parish that were in the Bishops Transcripts.


If anyone has thought about going to the records place in Dorcester but has been unsure about it, I would say go, They are really friendly there and are a massive help. And the amount of info they have there is amazing. And best of all its free! Wish I had gone years ago now.

Dorset History Centre
Bridport Road
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1RP

All the Best
Matt

[Paul Caswell]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Matt. 

And thanks for the snippet about the other number. I didn't know that.
Paul

[AngelaR]

Sounds like a great visit, Matt - I just wish Dorchester was nearer than the 'over 3 hours' trip that it is from me 

[Redroger]

Don't despair over lost records due to fires! I have connections with Blandford Forum, described as totally destroyed in 1731 with the loss of all records; except that it isn't true. Some stuff has survived and some of it is in Dorchester Record Office; I have a copy of the will of Osmond Luffman of Blandford dated 1671 which by the charred state of its right hand edge, not a single line is complete apart from the signatures and witnesses bottom left, has clearly survived a major burning. Osmond also features in the Protestation Return of 1645 held at the National Archive. These two survivals indicate that however total destruction is dispersal of records ensures something survives, so don't despair on Bere Regis!
More importantly will access to archives survive the coming slash and burn in local government>