National Probate Calendar

[LindaJ]

Has anyone got experience of using the National Probate Calendar? I understand it is indexed by date of death, then name, then address. How specific is the address?

[Jan1954]

Hello Linda,

The wills that I have found have very specific addresses in the calendars.

This (http://www.parishchest.com/shop/index.php?cmd=viewproduct&cat=&id=P80363&pageOffset=0) is quite a useful little booklet. ;)

[Peter Goodey]

How specific is the address?

The full address is given but what counts as a full address has varied over the years.

For example ""GILL Samuel of 19 Dovercourt Avenue, Thornton Heath, Surrey died 6 May 1926 Probate London 19 June to Marion GILL, widow. Effects £3552-17-10, net value of personal estate £2422-13-0".

An earlier example (1858) "John GOODEY late of Nettlebed in the County of Oxford..."

[LindaJ]

I'm looking for a will for someone who died in 1892. He was a farmer. If the calendar gives the name of the farm that'll be great but if not, I have to apply for the death certificate first and there are a choice of 2.

[Peter Goodey]

The GRO index deals in registration districts which cover many parishes. The probate calendar will specify the parish (at least in 1892 it will).

[LindaJ]

Many thanks Peter. I'll give it a go!

[LindaJ]

I've been looking through the National Probate Calendar and found the wills I was specifically looking for, but browsing through to check on other possibles I found an entry in 1853 for BROWN Joseph. Then "Portland", in quotes one line under the forename; then Pts August 1853; and (G.C.) Limited Administration.

Any ideas? Would "Portland" refer to his name, or where he lived?