Hi Kay,
The date is generally the date of the probate, but, most wills are made
within a few months of death and occasionally, a will is proved only then
to be challenged, which would delay the process, perhaps by up to a
year. Whatever, the date is seldom more that a few months different
from that mentioned on the will site.
Unless people lived in London or Kent, on the whole these wills are worth
looking at, and even the local ones provide information about the person
you otherwise would not know - our grandfather's London will is so worded
that "no husband with whom she may... " can ever touch her money. She
did not marry - maybe because he died when she was young and, on the face
of it, she had no dowry.
In my experience with wills, people made wills when there was some
indication that they might not have too many years to go. Often they say
"being of sound mind but frail in body" or somesuch.
Ingrid may have other ideas, but this is my experience. A pretty good
guide to date of death.
Cheers......... Erica
Out of interest please can I ask about date on each entry: does it
refer to
when the will was made or when the person died?
None of the wills listed belong to my family :-(
Kay M :-)
<snip>
Will of John Catley, Stable Keeper of Grays Inn Lane , Middlesex 31 January
1772 PROB 11/974
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