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Tracing Old Wills


iansheff

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Does anyone know if it is possible to trace an old will from the 17th Century?

If you go to the Sheffield Archives Shoreham Street they have information on

addresses to write to for certain years and districts for wills before 1850.

I once enquired about this and they were very helpful, the Local Studies

at Sheffield Library may have the same information. Give them a ring.

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Assuming it's a Yorkshire will, generally the process is -

1. search for the details in the index held on Origins website (get a free trial subscription)

http://www.origins.net/nwiwelcome.aspx

2. Use the index details (name, location, year, page number) to order a copy of the will either via the Origins website or direct from the Borthwick Institute (part of York University)

http://www.york.ac.uk/library/borthwick/copying/remote-copy-services/

3. Struggle to decipher the will - learn latin, handwriting conventions, odd names of daily objects

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/palaeography/

http://www.opcdorset.org/Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous-Contractions.htm

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