Looking For Wills

[timothybramble]

I have been working on my family tree for some years now but one area I have never checked are old wills. But where do I start?

For example if I was looking for a will for a John Bramble in the Lyme Regis from the 1800’s how would I go about this? I am also looking for a few generations of John Bramble’s in the London area for the rest of 1800’s and early 1900’s but no idea how or where to start, living in Canada will this be difficult?

Also, what kind of people had wills back then? Would the poor have them or only the rich?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[dawnsh]

Hi

There's a guide here

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,403339.0.html

although it's on the London board, a lot of it is relevant to the rest of the country.

Dawn

[timothybramble]

Thanks 

[Redroger]

There are also a lot of wills on line at the National Archives, many can be downloaded for £3-50

[Paul Caswell]

If you post here, Angela may have something. There are a few Bramble wills much earlier than you are looking for. Perhaps I will be able to help out as you trace the name further.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,307356.0.html

Wills are not just for the rich. My 7th gt grandfather Simon Stockley registered a will in 1733 because my 6th gt grandfather John was making trouble, he was a mason and left just:

In a Buttery

A Cubboard
Two small iron Potts
One Ladle
An old Table Board
One Trendle

In a dwelling room

Half a dozen of plates
seven small puter dishes
seven of chairs
one small prock
two small skellets
two of table board

In a inner chamber

an old feather bed with headboard
two pillows two blanketts &
one rug

In a outward chamber

an old feather bed rug & Blanket
two pair of sheets
two of chairs
four old boxes
a little old table board

He was buried 3 days later.

Paul

[timothybramble]

Thanks everyone, this is really appreciated!

[timothybramble]

Hi Paul,

Unfortunately wills earlier on would be no use, as Bramble would seem to be John’s adopted name. He was born John Long Pavey in 1804, but later became John Bramble after his mother Mary Pavey met John Bramble (the same names make this story confusing). His name change didn’t come till much later in life even after he was married and with kids, the whole family changed their name. I was hoping the wills might cast some light on why this happened.

[Paul Caswell]

Hi Timothy,

You can post there anyway if you like. Angela and I share the thread. She has post 1800 wills, I have pre-1800.

You seem to have an interesting challenge. Good luck.

Paul

[Redroger]

Timothy, Though it seems unlikely and you certainly have a challenge on, during the 18th and 19th centuries people were often left legacies on condition they changed their name to that of the benefactor. The time period is right for this to be the case, good luck.