The dates are both well after national probate started in 1858. I wonder whether after 1858 the option of where to get a will probated might have been the choice of the executor. Perhaps London was more conveniant for the executor of the 1905 will. Do you have residence information of the executors for the two wills you mention? Regards Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny Davis" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 10:53 AM Subject: [ENG-SOM] The proving of wills I'm wondering whether any of our resident experts might have comment on the wills of my great grandparents; in particular about *where* they were proved. Though they both died in the same parish - Combe St Nicholas - and within two years of each other - 1905 and 1907 - the earlier will was proved in London and the latter in Taunton. The two estates were of nearly identical value (about £150), and in each case probate was granted a similar amount of time after the death, about two weeks. Perhaps the Taunton 'facilty' came on stream in the intervening period? Thanks, Jnny ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

My thanks to Michael and Peter for their thoughts on "why London", but I continue to struggle to find a plausible explanation. Looking closely at Emma's will, that's the one proved in London, the two executors were both children of Emma, both of whom lived their entire lives - to my knowledge - in deepest rural Somerset (Combe St Nicholas). Then looking at the beneficiaries, seven children were to receive equal shares, after the death of husband Jacob, who at the time of probate was still alive. The only London connection I can see is that one of the beneficiaries was at the time, or rather, at the time of the preceding census, in London, but I'm 'clutching at straws'. Jacob's will, made two years later and just before his death, also named two of his children as executors, one the same as in Emma's will and the other then living in Cardiff; and again, the estate was to be divided equally between children, though here only six children were named, including the one in London. [The seventh child was still living but seemingly out of favour]. Jenny -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Peter J Richardson Sent: 14 March 2011 13:22 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ENG-SOM] The proving of wills The dates are both well after national probate started in 1858. I wonder whether after 1858 the option of where to get a will probated might have been the choice of the executor. Perhaps London was more conveniant for the executor of the 1905 will. Do you have residence information of the executors for the two wills you mention? Regards Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jenny Davis" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 14, 2011 10:53 AM Subject: [ENG-SOM] The proving of wills I'm wondering whether any of our resident experts might have comment on the wills of my great grandparents; in particular about *where* they were proved. Though they both died in the same parish - Combe St Nicholas - and within two years of each other - 1905 and 1907 - the earlier will was proved in London and the latter in Taunton.