Post up the relevant bit, Bev, and we can have a go at trying to figure it out!

I can just about disentangle legalese but I'm not much good with ancient writing.

Maybe you should go into partnership with Zoe?!!

I know you're all disappointed that at 30-something I'm still single and there's no decent prospect on the horizon for you to be buying a hat for - but you're taking this a bit too far now

Thanks Kite....but it's a bit too much to post here.....there were six sons and they all get mentioned, one after the other in very repetitive terms. Every so often, I try my hand at doing a bit more, in the hopes that somewhere I will find the explanation for the eldest not inheriting the major part of the estates. I think I know, but it would be nice to see it in writing somewhere, since the family seem to have managed to keep it out of the newspapers.

P'raps I should go straight to the codicil :(

I went to a presentation by an academic who had done a study of ancient wills, at my local FHS and she said that often if a son/daughter appeared to have been disinherited it was because they had already got their share by way of a gift before the death. So perhaps the son you think was missed out actually got a house or shares or some such before the parent died.
Margaret

I think it was an academic partnership they were thinking of. I hope this forum doesn't develop into a dating agency.

Doesn't look as if we are much good at it, so probably best to stick with FH :cool: