West Yorkshire Archive Wakefield

[geordiewesterby]

I have an ancestor who died in 1837 and I'm trying to find a will.

'JOHN WESTERBY of Doncaster, died 21st April 1837, Lieutenant and late Paymaster of the East Yorks Militia' - from The Leeds Mercury newspaper.

It's not in the Prerogative Court Of Canterbury. The Borthwick Institute in York usually have Yorkshire wills but drew a blank on this. However they did say that I should try the West Yorkshire Archive in Wakefield who have records of the Yorkshire Deeds Registry, where it may be recorded.

Can anyone who goes to the Wakefield archive help on this as I live in North Shields?

Help much appreciated.

David Westerby

[jillruss]

Hi David,

If you go to their website, you can email them. I'm sure they'll do a look up for the will and let you know if they've got it, especially as you have the date of death.

I've found them very helpful in the past.

Jill

[dobfarm]

I'll be in the WYAS Wakefield office soon but you are talking very blind here. You mention Deeds? but unless some specific land is mentioned in a Will? I see no result searching that area!    unless exact known land area location is known to search for names and dates on the deeds.

You also go on to state East Yorkshire which is more Hull archives and Doncaster that is part covered by Nottingham archives though Derbyshire Matlock office and Litchfield Staffs (Tent  & Ouse Valleys Archives)cover Doncaster. 

May sound Daft but also the Shakespear Trust aswell

Paymaster is where you should be looking and if there is a Will in an old box in any records office it more likey Hull. Though if York have not got a Will in their index  there is little chance of one.

Later years are Sheffield and Rotherham South Yorkshire M- councils Archives for Doncaster

I'll make enquires.

D

[geordiewesterby]

Thanks D,

I've been in touch with Wakefield by e-mail and they've looked in the Deeds Registry and no joy there.

Obviously if you are there, anything you could turn up would be hugely appreciated.

All I have on John Westerby at the moment is that he died aged 81 in April 1837 in Doncaster, he had been a Paymaster and Lieutenant of the East Yorks Militia.

A John Westerby who was Paymaster of the East York Militia married Elizabeth Smith in Monkwearmouth, County Durham in 1808 so this must be him, there can't have been two Paymasters with that name. they had a son in 1810 who died as an infant but there don't appear to be any more children. Not in Durham parish records or on the IGI anyway.

Like I say anything you could turn up - mucho appreciation.

David

[dobfarm]

Hi Bay,
Got a Elephant hanging over a cliffe edge held on to daisy situation.!= A nearly did. Like people with the next number to the big premium bond winner.~ Meaning.

1837 BDM's started  September ! yours is April. Sods law.

Memoriel Inscription or a grave headstone sometimes give a parents name (Family graves) sometimes

There maybe his name in the Deeds but finding it could take years.

He used the A1 road~ a thin clue.

Have you looked for a bond licence wedding on a marriage parish reg if you've found one. This gives their ages at marriage, if under age a parents signiture and the older 1700's marrs give  a bonds family member mans name.

Try finding in  th IGI his brothers & sisters as a run of decending years with same parents name, an odd name appears in a different location but fits the down run and seems to be a singular with no other events to the parents around years down run for that area.( Shows up in Hugh Wallis IGI LDS website) Also look for gaps as below ' private Bapt'  in down runs gaps of sibling of a marriage 1770/90 Then the wittesses ie: in a bro or cousin but same granddad.

Private bapt at home of parent by the vicar but not recorded in the church because of Tax on Bapts between 1783 and 1794.

Army records may Help.

This is going to be a long uphill battle for you.

Check all Family history societes 30 miles either side of the A1 road and Local studies Libraries 50miles north of Durham and 50 south of Doncaster also in between.

Go into this website, look for similar situation and advice given also links in search at the top of the page. resources. and requests in all counties.

Read National archive, Find my past and Lat Saints (LDS) family search libraries for what to do for beginers to semi pro...

Last! apart from Deeds of Yorkshire! Wakefield will hold nothing unless he came from West Yorkshire.

I'll look in the indexs of Family History societies in that area over time doing other info gathering  & while doing other research.............

Good hunting


D

[dobfarm]

Hi David meet bumbleb one TUFF DAISEY!!

Rootschat posters are lucky here! one of Yorkshires Semi pro formost genealogist! Lives Warwickshire area. but only lives there!

She an expert on your areas and could give sound general and more advice than I~as I'm more Warwick area and west yorkshire

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=361360.new;topicseen#new

[dobfarm]

Westerbys of Budwith and Cottingwith near Pocklington east of A1 road Achives Beveley nr Hull.
Also links to Army
 http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=371744.new;topicseen#new

[BumbleB]

I think that Dobfarm must have been at the "pop"    and you have been misled.  I'm sorry but I'm not an expert at anything - not even "ex" as in has been and "spurt" as in drip!!

As far as I can see you have tried all the known sources for the will - unless, and this is purely a guess, the place where he lived and/or died came under the area of Richmondshire, which might explain why there is no will or administration in the Borthwick.  Only problem is that I don't know where the Richmondshire records are housed.  And, of course, there is also the possibility that he did not leave a will, and that there was no need for administration to be sought.

Sorry not to have beenof much help.

BumbleB

[BumbleB]

I've just unearthed a booklet I have, although it relates to Marriage Licenses and BT's, which might be helpful.

Marriage Licenses for Richmondshire are held at Leeds District Archives, so they might also have will and administrations!?

Alternatively the archdeanery of Richmond was in the Diocese of Chester.

"In Yorkshire, North Riding, the deaneries of Richmond and Catterick were in the eastern division of the consistory court of the archdeaconry of Richmond (diocese of Chester), the parish of Sockburn, the peculiar of Crayke until 1837, and the bishop of Durham's peculiar of Allertonshire until 1846 fell within the jurisdiction of the consistory court of Durham and the parishes of Brompton, Deighton, High Worsall, Kirby Sigston, Northallerton and Allertonshire and West Rounton formed the peculiar of Allerton and Allertonshire under the jurisdiction of the dean and chapter of Durham until 1846.

In Yorkshire West Riding the deanery of Lonsdale was in the western division of the archdeaconry of Richmond (diocese of Chester) the deanery of Boroughbridge was in the eastern division."

I'm assuming that as Wills and Administrations also came under the auspices of the clergy until the 1850s that the same areas will apply to them, as to marriage licences  but I could be very wrong.

BumbleB