Merry
12-03-11, 13:03
BK6 updated from this thread
I have the will of one William Smith tailor, probate 1838 'of Puckridge in the parish of Standon'. I think William was buried 2nd Feb 1837 in Standon aged 60. His widow appears on the 1841 census aged 65.
Anyway, in the will William says:
"I give unto my said wife Sarah Smith during her natural life all that my freehold messuage in two habitations situate at Puckridge aforesaid with the outhouses yards gardens and appurtenances thereunto belonging and now in the occupation of myself and Phebe Castle (Widow) situate at Puckeridge aforesaid and which were left to me by the will of my late father John Smith"
I am desperate to locate this will of his father, John Smith, because I'm hoping William is a brother of my 3xg-grandfather James Smith, tailor of Standon b 1770, and John Smith would therefore be my 4xg grandfather.
Clearly the problem is I don't know when or where John Smith died and I think his may be a common name :rolleyes::o If he died in Standon then his death was probably before 1800 as my version of the NBI doesn't have a sensible burial after that date. However, he might have died elsewhere .....who knows? lol
So, does anyone know how tricky it is to access Hertfordshire wills (as I don't see anything obvious in the PCC index) and whether they are indexed at all?
I have the will of one William Smith tailor, probate 1838 'of Puckridge in the parish of Standon'. I think William was buried 2nd Feb 1837 in Standon aged 60. His widow appears on the 1841 census aged 65.
Anyway, in the will William says:
"I give unto my said wife Sarah Smith during her natural life all that my freehold messuage in two habitations situate at Puckridge aforesaid with the outhouses yards gardens and appurtenances thereunto belonging and now in the occupation of myself and Phebe Castle (Widow) situate at Puckeridge aforesaid and which were left to me by the will of my late father John Smith"
I am desperate to locate this will of his father, John Smith, because I'm hoping William is a brother of my 3xg-grandfather James Smith, tailor of Standon b 1770, and John Smith would therefore be my 4xg grandfather.
Clearly the problem is I don't know when or where John Smith died and I think his may be a common name :rolleyes::o If he died in Standon then his death was probably before 1800 as my version of the NBI doesn't have a sensible burial after that date. However, he might have died elsewhere .....who knows? lol
So, does anyone know how tricky it is to access Hertfordshire wills (as I don't see anything obvious in the PCC index) and whether they are indexed at all?