FARREN...probate at Llandudno.

[Etude]

I have found recently that during the 1940's, I have not delved further, that the family name Farren occurred in the Probates of various families in Llandudno, although I do not think the families were related, when they died they were all in England, mainly London, Surrey, Leicestershire and Colchester.
The family I am connected to is William Joseph FARREN married to Mary Ann RAINBOW, he was a retired shipping agent when he died on the 5th December 1943.  I do not know if the FARREN family originally came from Wales or Ireland.  Can anyone find a connect at to why these families would have had probates arranged in Llandudno.

Many thanks
Iris

[KGarrad]

The Principal Probate Registry relocated to Llandudno for the duration of the war!

It means the probate was dealt with there; not that they lived there!

[carol8353]

You say that he died in Dec 1943- where?
He does not appear in the National Probate indexes nor in the GRO death indexes.

He did however marry in Poplar in 1886 and it might be possible to find out where he was born from the censuses.

Marriages Dec 1886   

FARREN    William Joseph         Poplar    1c   1227    
RAINBOW    Mary Ann         Poplar    1c   1227    

[carol8353]

They married on 19th Dec 1886 at St Mary's Stratford le Bow.

William Joseph Farren 21 bach. warehouseman,37 Fairport Rd, father Joseph James Farren also warehouseman

Mary Ann Rainbow 19 spin. 39 Fairport Rd ,father William George Rainbow boilermaker

Witnesses George Henry and Elizabeth Pawsey,everyone signed.

***********

From the censuses it looks like he was born in Walthamstow and his dad in Stepney.

[Etude]

Thank you very much for your help, Carol, much appreciated.  It just seemed so strange the probate being so far from home.

Iris

[Deirdre784]

William Joseph Farren was christened at Walthamstow, Essex on 10 Feb 1867 (born 12 Dec 1866). Parents Joseph James Farren and Elizabeth Howard.

Ancestry suggests though that he died in Dec 1950 in Edmonton, Middx, aged 84. Also offers his birth, christening, and marriage to Mary Ann Rainbow. Probate (in London) gives date of death as 21 Dec 1950, resident of 28 Hanover Rd South, Tottenham. Probate granted to Stanley Charles Farren, manufacturer's agent.   

[Deirdre784]

Mary Ann Farren died in Essex in Dec quarter 1943, aged 76.

[KGarrad]

A few years ago, I found this in Hansard (Official Record of Parliament), which mentions:

"The hon. Member presumably refers to the Personal Application Department of the Principal Probate Registry. This Department, in response to an urgent public demand, is operating in London, detached from the main body of the Probate Registry, which is still at Llandudno, and with a staff reduced by the exigencies of the war. A considerable part of the Probate Registry's accommodation at Somerset House is still occupied by units of other Government Departments. At busy times there is undoubtedly some crowding at the counter at which applicants obtain their forms to be filled up; but at this stage there need be no discussion of details of a private nature. Applicants are interviewed privately by one of two Commissioners, by whom they are assisted in filling in the private details, in a room to which not more than two persons are admitted. It is regretted that it will not be possible substantially to improve the conditions in which this Department operates until the Probate Registry is able to return to Somerset House with the full use of its normal accommodation."

Which confirms the relocation to Llandudno.

[Etude]

Once again, thank you for the two new replies, it certainly solved a few queries.

Iris