Branching Out: Exploring Family History Through Pre-1858 Wills

Overview

Pre-1858 wills are among the richest and most revealing sources for family and local history research. They offer far more than the distribution of property, providing valuable insights into family relationships, friendships, occupations, social status, religious beliefs and the possessions that shaped everyday life. Wills and related probate records can help uncover the lives of ancestors while revealing the wider communities in which they lived.

This course introduces the pre-1858 probate system and equips learners with the skills to locate, read, transcribe and interpret surviving wills and related records with confidence. Focusing primarily on British research, the course explores accessible online catalogues and digitised collections, including resources from The National Archives and the National Library of Wales, demonstrating how these records can be used to enrich genealogical and historical research.

Through practical exercises, learners will develop essential skills in archival searching, palaeography, transcription, source evaluation and historical contextualisation. By the end of the course, learners will be able to use pre-1858 wills confidently to uncover new evidence, strengthen family connections and gain a deeper understanding of their ancestors' lives and the society in which they lived.

Programme

This online course lets you study from home while connecting with a vibrant virtual community of fellow learners.

Unit 1 - Introduction to wills and probate records. The history and development of wills; probate before 1858; ecclesiastical courts and jurisdictions; the main types of probate record; and locating wills through online catalogues and digitised collections.

Unit 2 - Reading old handwriting and transcription. Handwriting between 1500 and 1858; letter forms, spelling, special characters and abbreviations; transcription conventions; and practical work using extracts from different periods.

Unit 3 - Post-1700 wills and inventories. The structure and language of wills and inventories; executors, witnesses and beneficiaries; and evidence for family connections, occupations, property, possessions and social status.

Unit 4 - Pre-1700 wills and religious change. Medieval and early modern wills; religious bequests and funeral arrangements; the Reformation; Catholic and Protestant wills; Interregnum records; and change over time.

Unit 5 - From will to historical case study. Developing a focused research direction from a will or related probate record; identifying names, places, property and relationships as lines of enquiry; cross-referencing evidence with parish registers, inventories, taxation records, property records, directories, newspapers and other relevant sources.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:  

1. Explain the system through which wills were proved before 1858 and identify the main types and purposes of probate record.
2. Identify and locate relevant pre-1858 wills and related records using online and archival catalogues.
3. Carry out effective multi-stage searches for wills and cross reference them with related historical sources.
4. Transcribe and interpret handwriting, abbreviations and terminology found in wills from different periods.
5. Analyse and evaluate a will or related probate record and place the testator, family, property and relationships within a wider historical context

Assessments

1. Written Assignment - Transcription work, 400 words. (20%)
2. Research Project - Research project, 1600 words (80%)

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.