PCC Wills

[BeeE586]

Please, can anyone tell me if there is a website where I can see an index of wills for Yorkshire, or PCC, for the period 1450 - 1600. I have entered a number of searches in PRO, A2A, Borthwick, etc. without success, although I have gathered much other information I am interested in the BOSVILE's who were a prominent family at the time, marrying with the NEVILE's and a sister of Bess of Hardwick, with connections to Gunthwaite p. Penistone and Tickhill in Yorkshire, and also to my birthplace of Beighton in Derbyshire. I have an inventory dated 1581 for a house of 19 rooms in Beighton but no will.

Any advice most gratefully received. -- Eileen

[BeeE586]

Kester

Thank you for that, I had looked at that site, found WILLS, but had no joy. When I went back again a short time ago I discovered I had not looked properly the first time and was putting 'Place' on the line for 'Occupation' - silly me. However, even when I entered the information correctly there was not a BOSVILE to be found. They must be on the York lists although I do know they had land in both Derbyshire and Leicesteshire as well as Yorkshire. Back to the drawing board.

Eileen

[Barbara Griffiths]

However, even when I entered the information correctly there was not a BOSVILE to be found. Do you mean there were none at all, or just none to match your inventory? If you just put in the surname (ie no place or other details at all) as BOSVIL* (to allow for both the BOSVILE and BOSVILLE spellings), then there are 32 results. Also try BOSEVIL* and BOSSEVIL* for a few more, one of which is a Raffe BOSSEVILE of Lincolns Inn, Middlesex, 23 August 1582. Perhaps worth investigating?

Regards
Barbara Griffiths
Coventry UK

[BeeE586]

Barbara, thank you for that - how very kind to investigate this for me. I had entered BOSVILE, BOSVILLE and BOSWELL which is the later version. Time pressed and I would have got round to trying other variations some time today but you have saved me the trouble, I can go straight to them. The man in question, Godfrey Bosville was connected with Gunthwaite Hall in YKS Penistone, the family had some connection with the Lordship of Beighton Manor - leased from the Wortley's of Wharncliffe, and we think the place in Beighton was possibly a 'second home', not his main place of residence. Branches also had connections with YKS Tickhill and we are trying to tie all the lines together and perhaps find a common ancestor.

Thank you again -- Eileen - :)

[AnnB]

Hello Eileen
I had a quick Google and found that the University of Hull seems to have a lot of documents relating to the Bosvilles. You may, of course, already know about this, but, if not, go to http://www.hull.ac.uk/arc/collection/humad2.html which is the university of Hull Archives welcome page - choose simple query - stick in Bosville and you get 102 document 'hits'. You can then go to each one and see what they contain.
Hope I'm not telling you something you already know ;)
Best wishes
Ann

[Barbara Griffiths]

Barbara, thank you for that... Glad to help, Eileen. It's a pity the only Godfrey in the PCC is so much later than your inventory.

I assume you know about the pedigree and other entries in the Yorkshire Visitation? (available from ACDB)

Best wishes
Barbara

[BeeE586]

I have been offline for a day or two having had my sister on a weekend visit and she decided to stay an extra day - we had so much to talk about !!!

A belated but sincere 'Thank you' to the kind people who answere my query. Regarding the PCC wills, I had found the 30 odd entries but they were not of my time being too late. The Hull University info. was brilliant and I would never have though of looking there; York, Leeds, Wakefield yes, but not Hull. There was a potted historical resume back to Norman times and references to several books for further reading. A2A pinpointed a number of sources of possible interest in both Sheffield and Nottingham and the IGI had entries going back the the 13th century, but NO SOURCE MENTIONED - that requires very careful investigation. I have yet to investigate the Yorkshire Visitations.

Again, my thanks Eileen

[Fulhamster]

and perhaps find a common ancestor.

Hiya!
I only EVER find 'common' ancestors!!

[BeeE586]

The research is progressing. I have investigated the Rotherham and Doncaster Local Studies sites and found three entries from the Yorkshire Visitations with Family Trees, a possible tombstone in Eastrington Church in East Yorkshire, a title deed of 1470 and various other oddments. This afternoon (Saturday) my friend and I have been on hands and knees under the organ in Beighton Church 'reading' old tombstones with our fingers. Four were known and although we didn't find what we were looking for, we did find a stone that has never previously been recorded so far as we know. Life can be fun !!

Eileen

[Wirral]

According to the National Archives site, wills before 1858 in the north of England (York, Durham, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Cumberland, Lancashire, Cheshire, Nottinghamshire and the Isle of Man) were covered by the Prerogative Court of York (PCY). Those of the south of England and most of Wales were covered by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC). None of the PCY wills appear to be available online yet. Or if they are, I can't find them. And nearly all my ancestors were northerners! Most of them were "ag labs" anyway.
wills could also be proved at an Archdeacon's court or a Bishop's Court. Have you tried contacting the County Records library?

[BeeE586]

I have looked at the sites for Borthwick and Claremont, and am slowly working my way through sites for various other repositories. Visits to Borthwick, Wakefield etc. are planned for later in the summer, but at the moment we are gathering what information seems relevant from wherever. 15th and 16th century research is not easy as there isn't much of it, and it turns up in all sorts of unexpected places. I dread the time we find documents in Latin as my knowledge of that language is very strictly limited.

Best wishes -- Eileen