Need help trying to locate a Will

[Basson]

Greetings! I am in need of help. Supposedly there is a Will for a Henry Bason/Basson, of Winterborne, Dorset, 1656 (I assume 1656 is when the Will was passed by the court?). Whom is of significant interest to my family research.

I found this document on Ancestry. Under the book, Index to Acts of Administration in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1655-1660. Under the collection England: Canterbury - Administrations in The Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1655-1660 (A-F)

My question is, how does one go about tracking down this Will!? and getting a copy? - Would the National archives have it? The reason I am unsure that the National Archives do have it, because I've checked their online database of Wills, and Henry is not there. But I do fully understand that their online database is by no means complete.

I would be most grateful for any wisdom or advice you could share. Many thanks for your time!

[GrahamSimons]

I haven't done much on Probate this early on. But the key is the word Administration - which means that the person concerned died without a Will and therefore the Court had to appoint administrators to deal with his estate and so on.

My textbook tells me that the Act Book in the National Archives will usually have:
Date of grant of administration
Name of the intestate deceased
Parish of residence
Name of administrator and relationship to the intestate
Deadlines by which inventory and accounts had to be done

This isn't online and needs a visit to the National Archives or a researcher. Just to add to your luck, this particular date (1651-60) is in English - otherwise it would be Latin!

Now there might be more, according to my textbook the further items may well not be indexed or ou may need a paper catalogue at TNA. In series PROB16 you might find Court orders for distribution of the estate; in PROB2 you will find inventories, searchable online; Cause Papers in PROB1 searchable online.

This link might well help: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/wills-and-probate-records.htm

I'm sorry not to be as helpful as I'd like.

I recommend: "Tracing your ancestors in the National Archives" by Amanda Bevan; "Wills and other Probate Records" by Karen Grannum and Nigel Taylor, both published by TNA.

[Basson]

Thank you very much Graham! You've been more then helpful! And many thanks for the book recommendations, I will definitely grab a copy. I'll have to organize a trip to the archives one day soon. 

[KGarrad]

What you are looking for is the Administration and, as far as I can see, this is not available online?

TNA guides say this:

    What records can I find at The National Archives at Kew?
        Original Prerogative Court of Canterbury indexes (1383-1858)

        Consult the original indexes to wills and administrations of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in PROB 12.
        Administration Act Books (1559-1858)

        Look in Administration Act Books of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in PROB 6. Some indexes are available in the reading rooms.

        To access these records you will either need to visit us, commission research (£) or, where you can identify a specific record reference, order a copy (£).

So looks like you need PROB 6?

[Basson]

Yep that's it! That's wonderful, thank you very much for your help! - I'll be in contact with the NA soon