How to research Wills in London from Canada?

[Colin Rowledge]

It is just possible that one of my ggg-fathers had a few pounds when he died in London.

None of it reached me [more's the pty] |biggrin| but finding who got it might knock down a block or two from my Dowden wall.

[DBCoup]

National Archives Documentsonline search comes up with 21 Dowden wills (from 1639 to 1857).... if Dowden is the name you are after ......:confused:

[Aussie Shep]

Yes you can, check out the probateservice.gov.uk web site.

It is a very easy to read website, only negative being from overseas is that they do not take c/card payment, you have to pay via cheque made payable in UK pounds. It is 5 pound for a 4 year standard search.

I have requested a few wills from here in Australia and have paid my requests with english pounds, to date I have received all my requests.

I was quite scepitcal by putting cash in the enevelope but have been quite lucky. I have had one huge result with one of the wills, I posted my success story on this site; the will was very informative, gave me names and dates & addresses, the othes have been quite bland.

I visited our SOG in the city the other day and they have a facility to convert australian dollars into pounds via a cheque for you , for a fee of course. It was notably cheaper then the post office charge.
Good luck|wave|

[Hugh Thompson]

Colin, if you don't have it, the address for the NA's Documents Online is,


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/willsdeathduties.asp

[Geoffers]

It is just possible that one of my ggg-fathers had a few pounds when he died in London.

The date of death is all important as to where you look - is the death pre-1858 or 1858 onwards?

TNA research guides - click on the links prefixed Wills (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp?j=1#w)

[ET in the USA]

Colin,
We leave for England Feb 22 & always go to Bristol or Cardiff Probate offices to look for wills. Perhaps we can work out something where you pay me cash in CAD & I pay for the will in GBP. We may be going to Canada a couple of times this summer & can always use local currency.

The will Indexes where I go are after 1858. [Probate office]

Earlier will are elsewhere.
Elaine

[Colin Rowledge]

Colin,
We leave for England Feb 22 & always go to Bristol or Cardiff Probate offices to look for wills. Perhaps we can work out something where you pay me cash in CAD & I pay for the will in GBP. We may be going to Canada a couple of times this summer & can always use local currency.

The will Indexes where I go are after 1858. [Probate office]

Earlier will are elsewhere.
Elaine

Hi Elaine
I may take you up on your generous offer. So far from "Documentsonline" I've found one that 'maty be connected - a little more time may see if the person is mine.

Given that your departure is a month away, please keep in touch to remind me. As things are, I'm getting forgetful.
Colin