Family Wills
Wills are a fantastic source of family information and I always check to see if an ancestor left one.
Wills proved before 1858 are held by the archives for the county where probate was granted. If you are lucky enough to find a Will or Inventory in a county archive it is likely to be the original, handwritten document (though not necessarily your ancestor's handwriting).
From 1858, search the annual probate calendars. Probate copies can then be ordered, currently £1.50.
I have copies of the following Wills and Inventories, click the names to see a transcript (except William Hoyland)
BENFIELD Joseph of Measham, Derbyshire proved 24th April 1787
Transcript of original Will held at Lichfield Archives
BOLER Hannah, formerly FOWLER of Glapwell, Derbyshire proved 27th April 1848
Transcript of original Will held at Lichfield Archives
COLLINGWOOD Thomas of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 1696
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
COLLINGWOOD Thomas of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire 1696
Transcript of Inventory held at Lincolnshire Archives
COOTE Matthew of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire 1783
Transcript of Inventory held at Lincolnshire Archives
HARRIS John of Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire proved 10 February 1855
Transcript of original Will held at Northamptonshire Archives
HOYLAND Henry of Thurlstone House Thurlstone near Sheffield died 23 January 1937
Probate Wakefield 7 July Lillian Mary Hoyland widow.
Effects £284 3s 5d
HOYLAND Joseph late of 237 Allen Street Sheffield Baker and Flour Dealer died 1st March 1879
Probate Wakefield 16 April 1879 to William Hoyland Umbrella Manufacturer and Joseph Hoyland Baker and Flour Dealer the Sons.
Effects under £2000
HOYLAND William of Birks House Thurlstone, Yorkshire died 18 April 1923
Probate London 16 May to Elizabeth Hoyland widow George Hoyland Manufacturer and Arthur Hoyland Manager.
Effects £79166 19s 3d
PORTAS John of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 7th July 1783
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
ROULSTON Henry of Stanton by Bridge, Derbyshire proved 29th March 1711
Transcript of Inventory held at Lichfield Archives
ROULSTONE John of Wortley Hall Wortley, Sheffield house steward died 25 January 1908
Probate Wakefield 10 March to John William Roulstone engineer and Victor Roulstone electrical engineer
Effects £3404 14s 1d
STEAD William otherwise William Middleton of Midhope Hall Bradfield ecclesfield Yorkshire farmer died 6 June 1891
Probate Wakefield 4 July to Arthur Richard Stead farmer Martha Elizabeth Stead spinster and William Dransfield solicitor
Effects £800 8s 8d
VOWLES Agnes (nee Weaver) of 38 Coldharbour Road Redland, Bristol Widow died 3 July 1942
Probate Bristol 11th September to Thomas Edgar Vowles Dairyman and Rose Savory Married Woman the daughter of deceased
Effects £873 4s 10d
WEAVER Martha of Spring Farm Littleton Winford, Somersetshire widow died 3 July 1917
Probate Bristol 8 October to James Weaver and Albert Weaver farmers
Effects £3986 18s 4d
WEAVER Michael of Spring Farm Littleton Winford, Somersetshire retired farmer died 5 November 1912
Probate Bristol 11 January to Martha Weaver widow
Effects £4206 6s 6d
Resworn £4246 6s 6d
WEAVER Michael of Regil Winford, Somerset Yeoman died 19 December 1893
Probate Bristol 23rd February 1894 to Isaac Weaver and Michael Weaver yeomen
Effects £1161 15s 3d
WELLS Edward of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 08 November 1751
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS John Jnr of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 10 February 1761
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS John of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 22 March 1773
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS John of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved May 1701
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS Thomas of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 04 September 1788
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WRIGHT Alice of Stanton by Bridge, Derbyshire proved 06 May 1740
Transcript of original Will held at Lichfield Archives
Also the following letters of Administration (applied when the deceased had not made a Will):
ROULSTONE Richard effects under £600
29 June Administration of the effects of Richard Roulstone late of Bramcote in the County of Nottingham Gardener who died 27 May 1872 at Bramcote was granted at Nottingham to Mary Roulstone of Bramcote widow the Relict
* I have copies of several more family Wills and Inventories which will be added as soon as I've transcribed them, so check back
Wills proved before 1858 are held by the archives for the county where probate was granted. If you are lucky enough to find a Will or Inventory in a county archive it is likely to be the original, handwritten document (though not necessarily your ancestor's handwriting).
From 1858, search the annual probate calendars. Probate copies can then be ordered, currently £1.50.
I have copies of the following Wills and Inventories, click the names to see a transcript (except William Hoyland)
BENFIELD Joseph of Measham, Derbyshire proved 24th April 1787
Transcript of original Will held at Lichfield Archives
BOLER Hannah, formerly FOWLER of Glapwell, Derbyshire proved 27th April 1848
Transcript of original Will held at Lichfield Archives
COLLINGWOOD Thomas of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 1696
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
COLLINGWOOD Thomas of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire 1696
Transcript of Inventory held at Lincolnshire Archives
COOTE Matthew of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire 1783
Transcript of Inventory held at Lincolnshire Archives
HARRIS John of Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire proved 10 February 1855
Transcript of original Will held at Northamptonshire Archives
HOYLAND Henry of Thurlstone House Thurlstone near Sheffield died 23 January 1937
Probate Wakefield 7 July Lillian Mary Hoyland widow.
Effects £284 3s 5d
HOYLAND Joseph late of 237 Allen Street Sheffield Baker and Flour Dealer died 1st March 1879
Probate Wakefield 16 April 1879 to William Hoyland Umbrella Manufacturer and Joseph Hoyland Baker and Flour Dealer the Sons.
Effects under £2000
HOYLAND William of Birks House Thurlstone, Yorkshire died 18 April 1923
Probate London 16 May to Elizabeth Hoyland widow George Hoyland Manufacturer and Arthur Hoyland Manager.
Effects £79166 19s 3d
PORTAS John of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 7th July 1783
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
ROULSTON Henry of Stanton by Bridge, Derbyshire proved 29th March 1711
Transcript of Inventory held at Lichfield Archives
ROULSTONE John of Wortley Hall Wortley, Sheffield house steward died 25 January 1908
Probate Wakefield 10 March to John William Roulstone engineer and Victor Roulstone electrical engineer
Effects £3404 14s 1d
STEAD William otherwise William Middleton of Midhope Hall Bradfield ecclesfield Yorkshire farmer died 6 June 1891
Probate Wakefield 4 July to Arthur Richard Stead farmer Martha Elizabeth Stead spinster and William Dransfield solicitor
Effects £800 8s 8d
VOWLES Agnes (nee Weaver) of 38 Coldharbour Road Redland, Bristol Widow died 3 July 1942
Probate Bristol 11th September to Thomas Edgar Vowles Dairyman and Rose Savory Married Woman the daughter of deceased
Effects £873 4s 10d
WEAVER Martha of Spring Farm Littleton Winford, Somersetshire widow died 3 July 1917
Probate Bristol 8 October to James Weaver and Albert Weaver farmers
Effects £3986 18s 4d
WEAVER Michael of Spring Farm Littleton Winford, Somersetshire retired farmer died 5 November 1912
Probate Bristol 11 January to Martha Weaver widow
Effects £4206 6s 6d
Resworn £4246 6s 6d
WEAVER Michael of Regil Winford, Somerset Yeoman died 19 December 1893
Probate Bristol 23rd February 1894 to Isaac Weaver and Michael Weaver yeomen
Effects £1161 15s 3d
WELLS Edward of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 08 November 1751
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS John Jnr of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 10 February 1761
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS John of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 22 March 1773
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS John of North Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved May 1701
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WELLS Thomas of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire proved 04 September 1788
Transcript of original Will held at Lincolnshire Archives
WRIGHT Alice of Stanton by Bridge, Derbyshire proved 06 May 1740
Transcript of original Will held at Lichfield Archives
Also the following letters of Administration (applied when the deceased had not made a Will):
ROULSTONE Richard effects under £600
29 June Administration of the effects of Richard Roulstone late of Bramcote in the County of Nottingham Gardener who died 27 May 1872 at Bramcote was granted at Nottingham to Mary Roulstone of Bramcote widow the Relict
* I have copies of several more family Wills and Inventories which will be added as soon as I've transcribed them, so check back
