Query about a 1755 Will document

[aussiecandy]

Hi,

A while ago I downloaded a digital copy of a Will dated 1755. In the Will, one of the beneficiaries had the same name as the person who made the Will. However, no relationship was mentioned for either beneficiary.

I have an ancestor with the same name born about the same time. So how can I ever hope to ascertain if my ancestor was the grandson of the person who made the Will? I've searched many times to find my ancestor's baptism but some of the records for Southwark are in a poor condition or not online. My ancestor died in 1810.

The person who made the Will was a Backmaker. My ancestor with the same name was a Victualler. So he could have descended from a family in the Brewing trade.

This is one of my brick walls. I'd really appreciate some suggestions, please.

Cheers,
Em

[amondg]

What's the name of your ancestor, maybe we can help

[aussiecandy]

What's the name of your ancestor, maybe we can help

Thanks for responding. I didn't provide names for two reasons - Firstly, I've found some of my previous post are easily accessible via a google search, things are more public than I expected, not sure yet if posts can be deleted. Secondly, I thought the name wouldn't necessarily make any difference to the potential answer as the same problem may happen with other Wills, albeit rarely. 

[Wiggy]

We have had a very similar problem with names in wills.

 The way we're able to solve it was looking for other beneficiaries who were known to be part of the same family . . Other siblings or in-laws for example.

Hope this might help.

Wiggy.

[aussiecandy]

Cheers Wiggy. So far we can't make any connection to the other beneficiary but I hope we will eventually. He was in business with one of the two witnesses to the Will and that witness became a very wealth man who owned some property. I'm just looking on at the catalogues on the 'Exploring Surrey's Past' website. Nothing definite about the possible ancestor but there's a few references to the witness which may be worth investigating further.

We have had a very similar problem with names in wills.

 The way we're able to solve it was looking for other beneficiaries who were known to be part of the same family . . Other siblings or in-laws for example.

Hope this might help.

Wiggy.