How do I get early will from Huntsham?

[Peggy]

Can someone please tell me if/how I might get a copy of the Will/Admon
cited below?

Wills and Administrations, Court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter.
Padfield, Edward, Huntsham W. 1679

Please note my location, which (alas!) rules out a quick trip to Exeter. :)

Thanks,

Peggy

[Geoffers]

Local wills are usually held by the relevant County Record Office - in this case Devon. Unfortunately I can't get their webstie to open to confirm this for you. Record Offices can usually supply copies of wills at a reasonable price - if the website (when it's working) doesn't have details of charges, I'd suggest asking them by e-mail devrec@devon-cc.gov.uk or 'phoning them 01392 384253 (I think you drop the '0' when dialling from abroad)

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Peggy]

Hi Geoffers,

I got through to the web site, but the office is moving and will be closed until the end of February at the earliest. Information on the site reveals that the will I'm looking for would have been among those destroyed in an air raid. There is a very slim chance that someone had abstracted details prior to WWII. Once the office is open again I can get a search of the card index to find out.

Thanks for the help,

Peggy

[Terry]

Hi Peggy, where did you get the reference from? was it on A2A? or National Archives web site. There is a distinct difference between the two.
If it was on A2A, and listed under DRO then this will be an Estate duty office copy and is normally available from the Devon Record Office, as they are closed , I'm not sure but I think the LDS may have them on film- its worth checking, wills pre 1858.
If the info came from the National Archives, then should should be able to download a copy from that site for £3.50. I've just downloaded two, mind you I've found that some of the writing is very, very, difficult to read.

[Peggy]

Hi Terry,

Neither. Ancestry. As best I can make out, the source is a register or index from the LDS. I searched the LDS Library catalog, but it doesn't appear to me that they have any films of the wills, only of lists and of some abstracts. (Matches what the Devon RO says they have.) I don't get any hits on A2A or the National Archives site, but confess to being inexpert at searching them. The Estate duty records for Devon seem to be from later dates only.

I'd be happy to struggle with the handwriting if I could find the document! Wills & probate records can be easier, as one can make a good guess at the legal boilerplate and get a "read" on the handwriting from that.

Regards,

Peggy

[Kathryn Norman]

Dear Peggy:
I also lost a Will of my ancestor 1674 in the blitz of "42." Before the Devon office closed I was fortunate to have had an e-mail from the woman who was at the Devon Office. I was able to get a Will (1647) from the Cornwall Record Office, but it was damaged in places ( which they warn you about before mailing) and it has been almost impossible to decipher because the ink has faded in places and the handwriting is quite different. Ron Neep has a wonderful tutorial on this forum to help...but because of the ink fading in places it's difficult...I even put it on a lightbox with a magnifying glass.
I was under the impression that once it's destroyed...it's gone, but if you find that there could possibly be a copy or film of it, I would love to know. I wanted the Will to trace the family...especially since the other Will was so damaged.
Thanks to you for writing about this problem and for all who are assisting you. Good luck, Kathryn Norman
P.S I also found the Will listed on the LDS website. I simply contacted the Devon Office (because one of them was in the Archdeaconry of Exeter, even though my ancestors were from Padstow,Cornwall.) It seems Padstow was an unusual case in Cornwall because of its rural situation,(I'm told.) If you like I'll look up the woman I contacted. She was most helpful.

[Geoffers]

I was able to get a Will (1647), but it was damaged in places ( which they warn you about before mailing) and it has been almost impossible to decipher because the ink has faded in places and the handwriting is quite different.For handwriting - search out the thread 'Secretary Hand' - on that you'll find links to a couple of online alphabets and also an onlin course in this style of handwriting.

As to faded handwriting, you might try taking digital photos of the damaged area and using computer software to enhance the image - often fairly simple things such as changing faded writing to a negative image, varying the brightness/contrast and changing the colouring of the image can sometimes help.

Good luck and Happy Christmas

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Kathryn Norman]

Dear Geoffers: Thank you for your suggestions regarding old handwriting and the "tricks" to be able to read the damaged Will. I'm sure your advice will help a lot. And a Merry Christmas to you too! Kathryn For handwriting - search out the thread 'Secretary Hand' - on that you'll find links to a couple of online alphabets and also an onlin course in this style of handwriting.

As to faded handwriting, you might try taking digital photos of the damaged area and using computer software to enhance the image - often fairly simple things such as changing faded writing to a negative image, varying the brightness/contrast and changing the colouring of the image can sometimes help.

Good luck and Happy Christmas

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Peggy]

The Devon Record Office hasn't re-opened yet, but I had a try at writing to the Local Studies Library in Exeter. They have the 2 collections of will abstracts, and an index for them. No Padfield.

So, I'll try when the Devon office opens again, but hope is fading. I wonder if these brickwall demolishers Rod Neep is scanning might help? Or would my testator have to have been Sir Edward Padfield to get a mention? :) I don't think there were hundreds of volumes of that "Sufferings of the Clergy (http://www.parishchest.com/en-gb/dept_3249.html)" book. <g>

Regards,

Peggy

[Peggy]

Hi all,

Devon RO is finally settling in to the new offices. No luck with my query, as expected.

You had better luck with Cornwall than I, Kathryn. The same source (on ancestry) also had another almost identical listing, but saying "County: Cornwall." Devon thought it was worth a try to ask Cornwall, but the Cornwall archivist expressed amazement: Didn't the Devon RO know about the bombing? Oh well.

I did, during a Devon lookup month announced by Rod, ask if anyone could spot Padfield on a pedigree/lineage CD. No replies, which could mean no, or that no one looked. Maybe next time.

Peggy

[AnnB]

Hello Peggy
Have just had a look at the Visitations for Devon 1620, Cornwall 1620, Somerset 1623 and 1672 (courtesy of Archive CD Books set) but there is no sign of a Padfield :( Probably too early anyway. I don't suppose it is of any interest to you whatsoever, but there is a Funeral Directors and Furniture Shop in Barnstaple, North Devon, by the name of Padfields.
Best wishes
Ann

[Peggy]

Thanks very much, Ann!

Not too early. My John Padfield should have been born around 1605. I'd hoped one of them might crop up marrying into some more august family.

I think I've noticed that Funeral Director while googling. I get hits for people they buried. :eek:

Best,

Peggy