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Tracing a lost will

Sent to Legal Experts June 20 04:24 AM

How do I trace a will that was written by an ancestor over 90 years ago in the UK? My ancestor wrote the will so that no family could claim anything before a certain time. I believe that the will will go to the state if not claimed before 100 years after his death (I know there is some a name for this type of will can you advise me of this also). We believe the 100 years is now closing in and we are all so interested to see what he left as he was quite an eccentric. If you can help me, what information would I need to provide to the company (as we don't know the exact date he died).

 

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Perth, Australia

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internet advice and family tree research.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $25
Info Request
June 20 9:34 AM (5 hours and 10 minutes and 31 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark

Sir could you provide his full name and date of death for me. Also, are you sure he would have written it in Britain perhaps Wales? Do you know what location his burial was in.

Do you have British or Australian Citizenship?

With these questions answered I may be able to further assist you better.

regards.

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4ren6 -- Forensics/CSI -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3025 Legal Accepts
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Reply
June 20 10:18 PM (12 hours and 43 minutes and 15 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Hi,

The name of the deceased is John Williams and the date of death is unknown (early 1900s) - We believe he died in Cumbria (formerly known as Cumberland), possible towns Egremont, Whitehaven, Scagill, which is in England. His will was left in Chancery (that was the terminology I was looking for earlier), if that helps.

I am a british citizen.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
June 20 10:21 PM (3 minutes and 10 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark

Thanks, give me time as I am working on yours and another very detailed search of family. If I can find it I will. Or at least provide leads. Have you heard any Solicitors name mentioned?

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June 20 10:25 PM (3 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Sorry no solicitors names mentioned.

Many thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing from you.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
June 20 10:30 PM (5 minutes and 21 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
Ok. Let me work on it and lets see what all I can locate. Also, was John Williams his full name and did he have any known title before it.
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4ren6 -- Forensics/CSI -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3025 Legal Accepts
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June 21 12:01 AM (1 hour and 30 minutes and 48 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Hi

I believe that to be his full name. Mr John Williams.

Many thanks
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
June 21 7:28 AM (7 hours and 27 minutes and 38 seconds later)
         

Continuing to research for you. I thouht perhaps he may have had some formal British title before his name.

Will post when I have or can find enough info for you. I am working on it I assure you.

regards.

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4ren6 -- Forensics/CSI -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3025 Legal Accepts
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Info Request
June 21 3:42 PM (8 hours and 13 minutes and 23 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
Do you have a date of birth. Getting close to him in Cumberland but need birth date. Or exact date of death. Also, what type of INTERNET and genealogy checks have you made.

Edited by 4ren6 on June 21 2006 at 3:59 PM
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June 22 2:15 AM (10 hours and 33 minutes and 22 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Hi - sorry this must be painstaking, as we don't have the exact date of birth - I know that he married 'Mary Jane Beck' if that helps and we think he married her on 23rd Dec 1873.

My father in law has tried to investigate for me too - he has produced a pedigree chart and has searched some UK internet sites (sorry don't know which ones).

Sorry I am not making this very easy am I?

Many thanks
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
June 22 7:18 AM (5 hours and 3 minutes and 9 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark

I have found a site with John Williams listed in a Chancery/Probate/law issue from Cumberland. there are around 50 pages it appears from what I see.

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British Chancery Records, 1386-1558 Record
Court, Land, Probate
>John Williams < >date - location

The site offers a 14 day free evaluation. However, in order to do this you have to provide a credit card in the event you want to join membership and continue for a year. I would not join as to the issue with the card. The site is a legitimate site and I believe may produce what or some of what you are looking for. It is unusual to find this many listings for this name in Cumberland. I can not get any dates or specifics unless I join.

Let me know if you would like this information as an answer(the link with info) or I can continue digging as well or both.



Edited by 4ren6 on June 22 2006 at 9:50 AM

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4ren6 -- Forensics/CSI -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3025 Legal Accepts
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June 22 10:55 PM (15 hours and 36 minutes and 13 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Hi

Sorry I am not too sure how this site works - but you attached a link 'British chancery Records 1386-1558' which I cannot open - do I have to accept your answer before opening, or will you send me the link?

If this is the link would I find the correct info, as the dates 1386-1558 seem to be earlier than the date I am looking for.

Hope this makes sense.

I would like the information (link etc) and if there is anything else that would be great.

Please advise what I need to do next..

Many thanks
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Info Request
June 22 11:06 PM (11 minutes and 31 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark

The links were left out as this would have given an answer. You have brought up reason's as to why I did not post this as an answer yet. I have the full link. what appear to be dates I believe to be pages or books........not dates. If you will read my post above yours regarding this site you will better understand it. I did not go into the site for the reasons mentioned............This is about all I am finding on him. The name and location of Cumberland match. I was not able to verify any other info on the site.

Would you like for me to send the link to you as the answer at this time. But read the info above on the free trial and cost of the link involved.

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4ren6 -- Forensics/CSI -- 99% Positive Feedback on 3025 Legal Accepts
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June 22 11:22 PM (15 minutes and 28 seconds later)
         
Reply to 4ren6's Post: Sorry I misread your email as I am very busy at work -

That would be great if you could send me the link as the answer.

Many thanks
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
June 22 11:24 PM (2 minutes and 25 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

I could not go into it as described. I have searched quite a bit in regards to John Williams relating to any chancery or probate and this is all that I find on said person in Cumberland England.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gsfn=John&gsln=williams&gsby=&gsbco=3251%2CEngland&gsbpl=5259%2CCumberland&gsdy=&gsdco=3251%2CEngland&gsdpl=5259%2CCumberland&gst=36&gsoco=1&gsopl=1%2C+&sbo=0& rank=1&db=&ti=0&ti.si=0&gl=allgs&gss=asrf&so=3

If you require further help or assistance please let me know. I do hope that this will further assist you in finding the will. It appears to be the best yet.



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