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Wills & Probate

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Celia

Celia Report 26 Nov 2005 10:22

Early wills & probate do not indicate the age at death of deceased or where the person died. Are there any links to these two documents that can help. Thank you. Celia

Phoenix

Phoenix Report 26 Nov 2005 11:10

Wills usually state the residence and the occupation of the deceased. They also usually mention family members. Anyone who witnesses a will cannot be a beneficiary. If a wife isn’t named in a will, but is the executrix, her name will be mentioned in the probate. These are all clues which help piece a family together. Often it is the childless brothers and sisters who make the best wills, naming all their relations. If one family member leaves a will, the odds are that others do too, so there is often more than one will to help you. You may not be able to prove conclusively that a John Smith who made a will was your John Smith, but it is probably easier from a will than from early burials, which don’t usually provide an age at death either.