A will is a formal document setting out what a person wants to happen to their possessions after their death, and the value of of a will is often underestimated by researchers, but they often hold vital information, such as:
- indicate the place of interment and burial instructions
- define precise relationships
within family groups
- name relatives in different
parts of the country and the world
- name children, nephews or nieces
whose existence you never suspected
- give information concerning the professions of your
ancestors, as tools were often passed on from father to son
- bring to light family skeletons
such as acknowledging illegitimate children
- add "flesh to the bones" of a
genealogical study by providing a guide to the wealth and lifestyle of an
ancestor
- or a loyal servant might be rewarded with a gift such as
clothes or jewellery
Until January 1858, all wills had had to be proved (formally approved) by
church and other courts, these were generally proved by the local authority,
although if needed they were referred to the higher authorities - the PCC
(Prerogative Court of Canterbury in Kent) or the PYC (Prerogative Court of York
in Yorkshire).
There were three main factors determining in which court
a will would be proved: where the person died, the value of the goods, how these goods were distributed geographically. If the property was in one or more diocese, or the goods were valued at more
than £5 (or £10 for those within London), and was in more than one diocese the
will was proved in the Archbishop's Prerogative Court, as opposed to the local
courts.
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury was the most important of these courts,
and dealt with the relatively wealthy individuals living mainly in the south of
England and most of Wales (what was originally the ecclesiastical province of
Canterbury).
This 6 disc CD set contains the handwritten images in greyscale
of all the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills proved in 1854. Readable using DjVu,
which is supplied on disk one and needs to be installed first.
Please note that the wills are not searchable as they are handwritten, but
you will find them grouped by months, then bookmarked alphabetically to help make
finding your will easier.
