In message <01C40666.D794CAA0.emagar@hotkey.net.au>, Elizabeth Agar <emagar@hotkey.net.au> writes >The tontine share in question was taken out in the testator's son's name. >A bit like buying the son a lottery ticket - worth something or a lot! >This was not unheard of - my great x 4 grandfather did the same for his >son - his will of 1807 contains: > >"I give unto my Son Joseph Eade all that my share of one hundred >pounds in the Wanstead Tontine on his own life to & for his own use & >benefit " That makes a lot of sense and fits the strict definition well. You can imagine, though, what would have been the reaction if father took out a share in Tom's name and left it by will to Dick or Harry. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society