Page 204 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

ever proved the prinred will and
leian Oxford Library, and there are
quite a number of Welsli genealogy administration calendars at Somer-
records to be found in the Harleian set House and at District Registries
manuscripts which are in the British list them.
Museum.
Wills prior to 1858 present more
A very good WeIsh section is aIso dii3cultv as their provinn was in the
availabli: at:
hands if the ~h&ch. 1f-a man had
property in two or more diocese his
The Society of Genealogists.
will wouId have to be proved in one
37 Harrington Gardens.
of the archbishop's courts either the
London S.W,7, England.
Prerogative Court of Canterbury or
the Prerogative Court of York and
A letter to the Secretary will always if property was held in both the
provinces of York and Canterbury
produce a courteous reply.
Welsh wills are now available at the proof would be found at Canter-
the Bishoprics, namely at Bangor, bury.
In cases where property was held
Llanduff, St. Asaph (now deposited
at Bangor) and St. Davids at Caer- in only one Archdeaconry the
marthen.
executors could prove his will in that
The Public Record Ofiice in Lon- Archdeaconry, but there was no bar
don contains the Equity Records, to its king proved in a higher court
Comrnon Law Records, including and this alternative was frequently
the Fines and Recoveries of the adopted because of the reluctance in
time of Henry VI11 to William IV having family affairs dealt with
Jail Files for the period and the locally.
Plea Roles from 1485 onwards and
An excellent publication dealing
in addition a number of miscellan- with the whereabouts oE wills is
eous or general records.
' Wills and Their Whereabouts ' by
It is true to say that the genuine Anthony J. Camp.
inquirer into Welsh genealogy has a
far greater chance of success if he Wills, Scotland - Scottish Wills were
understands Welsh, as much of the proved before the Commissariat
old material has never been trans- Courts and 1514 is the date of the
lated into English.
earliest entry. The wills have al1
been indexed. An enquiry with
Wills - A will can be a most valu- regard to a Scottish will should be
able document and it can equally sent to H.M. Registrar General,
be a most frustrating one. At its New Registrar House, Ed inburgh.
best it will give a great deal of infor-
mation with regard to the testator's Widward Islands -
family together with some interest- Dominica. Records date from 1860.
ing bits of history which would Information may be obtained
probably not be found anywhere from the Registrar General.
ëlse. Grenada. Records of marriages date
Since 1858 WiIls and Administra- from 1841 and births and deaths
tions in England and Wales present from 1866. Applications with
no difficulty because from that time regard to these should be sent to
onward they have been proved the Registrar General. Records
either in the Principal Registry at prior to these dates, and some do
Somerset Nouse or at one of the exist, are retained by the clergy
District Probate Registries. Wher- of the various denorninations, the