Wills

[PENLEE]

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.

[Billy Anderson]

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

[PENLEE]

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.

                               

[maidmarion]

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

maidmarion 

[PENLEE]

Hello Maidmarion,

Thank you for this link which I shall look at.

Penlee.

[Luzzu]

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

[PENLEE]

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.