Genealogy Chat

Hi All,

Have recently sent a letter to York to try and find a copy of the will of my great great grandfather. He was a freemason of the Borough of Shrewsbury.

I gave all the info they requested and they did a search in the 4 year period following his death but no will was found.

Can anyone tell me if this is usual? I am wondering whether to invest some more money into searching the four year period after that.

What are your thoughts?

Kind Regards

Jane

Jane

Not everyone left a will
Do you have his death certificate?

MB

Hi MB,

Yes I do have his death certificate. He was quite a wealthy guy at one stage for definite.

BW

Jane

What's the date of death?
Probate can takes years if its complex
Did his wife survive him? (Assuming he was married)

TNA has some wills - depends on the period your looking

MB

Hi MB

He died in January 1921. Last known address was in Oswestry.

His wife died in 1919.

Sorry to sound thick but what is TNA?

Many Thanks for your help

Jane

TNA = The National Archives

The have a Fact Sheet - but I think the period your looking at is not held by them.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enationalarchives%2Egov%2Euk%2Fcatalogue%2Fleaflets%2Fri2301%2Ehtm&lBack=-1

C&P the full string

So if York looked 1921 - 1924 inc then I'd have thaught it unlikely he'd left a will.

Are you able to get to London to search for yourself?

MB

Hi MB,

No I now live in Devon with 2 young children so that is impossible. Do you think it is worth paying for a search for 1925-1929?

BW

Jane

Hi

If he was quiet weathly it doesn't mean he made a will. I don't know if it was the same back then but it could be he hadn't made a will and it went through probate or what ever was back in place then, and believe me they don't rush things when money's involved.

Depends - on how much you want/need to find out and if the cost is within budget.

MB

Many Thanks for both your responses.

BW

Jane

Might be worth visiting your records office website - lots of wills and information there.

http://archives.shropshire.gov.uk

There may be a probate register? There will no doubt be a mention of him somewhere if he was a freeman ( I presume you mean that rather than Freemason)

Ian

Hi Joan, Ian

Yes i do mean Freeman!!! Where can I access these records, please?

BW

Jane

Hi All,

This seems very interesting. If it was honoury can it still be passed down?

Thank you so much Joan and everyone else. I think I will need to get someone to go to the Archives for me.

Kind Regards

Jane

Many Thanks Joan,

Will see what I can find out.

BW

Jane