I sent for a will,for interest and to determine the family members.It went on for six sheets,detailing shares and holdings etc.A couple of the sons,were church ministers.The sum of “under £600” had been written at the end after grant of probate.This seems a small sum.I wondered if some of the trusts mentioned in the will would not have been detailed financially.Has any Lister experienced this.please. Regards,Charles

Hi Charles You missed off the all important part *when* was the will proved 600 gbp would be worth a significant sum in todays moneys depending on the year of probate The sum mentioned at probate should include all assets If the deceased distributed money or assets before they died they would not be mentioned unless specifically detailed in the will Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) On 23/09/2012 11:00, Charles Hawker wrote: > I sent for a will,for interest and to determine the family members.It went > on for six sheets,detailing shares and holdings etc.A couple of the > sons,were church ministers.The sum of “under £600” had been written at the > end after grant of probate.This seems a small sum.I wondered if some of the > trusts mentioned in the will would not have been detailed financially.Has > any Lister experienced this.please. > > Regards,Charles

I sent for a will,for interest and to determine the family members.It went > on for six sheets,detailing shares and holdings etc.A couple of the > sons,were church ministers.The sum of "under £600" had been written at the > end after grant of probate.This seems a small sum.I wondered if some of the > trusts mentioned in the will would not have been detailed financially.Has > any Lister experienced this.please. You don't mention the date, which is rather critical. If before 1858, then the will was being proved in a Church court, and any freehold houses or land were no concern of the church and were therefore not included in the valuation. Even after that, £600 was not to be sneezed at, representing at least several thousands in today's money. Then it was at least two years good living with a number of servants. You would need to state if any of the 'trusts' mentioned ownership of property - many people rented only. Were actual money sums mentioned -? That is, cash not geared to the sale of assets. If so. tot them up and see if they anount tomore than £600 - if they do and were payable immediately, the the testator is a fantasist. But most people were realistic and disoposed of assets they actually had, or which would arise in time to pay legacies - as with future crops for a farmer, sale of houses, dividends from shares etc. Tell us a bit more, and we can judge if the money was only part of the estate. EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society