on 5/13/03 8:15 AM, [email protected] at [email protected] wrote: > I have a copy of an old will dated August 1804. In it 4 of the children are > named. According to other records there were several other children. Does > this mean that they are dead or can there be other reasons for 'cutting them > out'? > > > Neil >From my own experience... 1. Will was written before children were born and not updated. 2. Children were not so nice to the parents. (I've actually read one in my own family were the mother gave reasons why she cut them out!) 3. The parents weren't so nice or played favorites. 4. Children died before Probate. (happens a lot in that era) 5. Children not mentioned were given their share of goodies before the Will was written, hence excluded. (also happened a lot - but not sound legally - should at least mention the children so no one is "mistakenly" left out of an inheritance) Not knowing any more particulars of the above Will, my guess would be #4. Curt Sanders -- http://www.CurtSanders.com