My first contributor to this section of the site, Janice Tostevin, says, rightly:

Wills are addictive. They are a wonderful social commentary on their time, full of explanations of family relationships and great for seeing who was connected to whom even when they weren't related. There are lots of little subplots to stir the imagination too - people literally cut off with a shilling and other indications of family friction, guardians anxiously appointed in advance, wives exhorted not to remarry etc

I even learned some family things by doing this Massingham batch. One ancestor cropped up as a witness and that helped me narrow down his date of death, another popped up with a will under a new married name when I hadn't even known she had remarried and I finally discovered something about the name of the donor in a family bible inscription from 1824. But it was the 'feel' I got for Massingham that was the real bonus.

Accordingly I hope that this will encourage other researchers to study wills, and perhaps contribute to this site?

Note (added 9th August, 2005):

Norfolk wills are generally available on either micrfiche or microfilm at the Norfolk Archive Centre Norfolk Record Office, and for those proved in London and elsewhere are similarly available at the National Record Office, see Wills. The wills and other documents linked from this page have been transcribed from copies held at the Norwich Record Office, unless otherwise stated on the particular page.

For an Introduction to the Probate Records available, and link to a search facility. see Norfolk Record Office Holdings

1. Antingham Will of Joseph SALMAN, 1775
2. Aylmerton Wills of John FOX, Gentleman, 1766 and William YOUNGMAN, 1836
3. Aylsham Copyhold Title of William ROBINS of Aylsham, 1814 ; Agreement of James BARBER of Aylsham, 1769; Receipt for Dower Fine, Mary BARBER, 1781; and Will of Jonathan Dawson, 1695
4. Blickling Will of Ralph DAWSON, 1700
5. Brampton Will of George BARBER, 1812
6. Brancaster Will of Abell DAWSON, 1784; and Bond Re: Thomas Dawson, Deceased Intestate, 1743
7. Briston Will of Elizabeth STOREY, 1827
8. Burgh-next-Aylsham Will of Stephen BARBER, 1847
9. Castle Acre Will of John HUDSON, 1839
10. Cromer Will of Thomas DAWSON, 1697; John DAWNCE, 1527/8; and Agnes Dawson Manor Court Document, 1747
11. Dunton Will of Samuel BARBER of Stanninghall, 1797
12. East Walton Will of John HUDSON, 1839
13. Erpingham Will of William STOREY. 1800
14. Felbrigg Will of James BARBER, 1754
15. Foulsham Will of John BARBER, 1827
16. Foxley Will of John DAWSON, 1847
17. Frettenham Indenture of James BARBER1699; and Indenture Relating to Sale of Property, 1724
18. Gorleston Manor Court Appearance of Thomas DAWSON, 1527/8; Inventories of Thomas SADLER, Boatman, 1754; and Thomas Dawson, 1726; and the Wills of Anne DAWSON, 1731; Ruth DAWSON, 1845; Thomas Dawson, 1723; Thomas DAWSON, 1726; Thomas DAWSON, 1780; Thomas Dawson, 1835; William DAWSON, 1757; Giles SHALL. or Shall, 1812; James SHALL, or Shaul, 1813; and John SHAUL, 1828.
19. Gresham Wills of Richard FULLER, 1746, Winifred FULLER, 1686; and Robert Youngman, 1759
20. Gunton Indenture of John HARBORD, 1699 and Samuel & John BARBER, 1724
21. Hackford by Reepham Wills of Ann DAWSON, 1764; and William DAWSON, 1581/2
22. Holkham Bond of Patience DAWSON & John TROWELL, Re: Adam DAWSON, Intestate, 1769
23. Holme Hale Will of Robert HUDSON, 1845
24. Holt Will of George Dawson, 1803
25. Horstead Will of James Barber, 1757; and Inventory of Robert BARBER, 1730
26. Kettlestone Will of Edward Fox, miller, 1753
27. King's Lynn Will of Thomas SHEARMAN, miller, 1704
28. Letheringsett Will of Thomas YOUNGER Senior, Millwright, 1832
29. Little Barningham Will of John BARBER, 1856
30. Little Snoring Will of William Fox, 1659
31. Massingham Index of Wills, 1738 – 1858
32. Necton Will of Fox HUDSON, 1784
33. North Elmham Notes on Will of Charles ATKINSON, 1850
34. Northrepps Will of Edward STOREY, 1834
35. North Walsham Wills of John WILLER, 1821 amd John Willer, 1839
36. Norwich Agreement of Charles LAY the Younger, 1769
37. Outwell Will of William REEVE, 1828, and his son Thomas REEVE, 1897.
38. Pentney Will of Jeremiah RICHES, 1848
39. Pulham St. Mary The Virgin Will of Stephen BROWN, 1798
40. Reepham Will of John DAWSON, 1722
41. Ridlington Wills of Lawrence, 1603 Thomas, 1556 James, 1556 Margaret, 1558 and Lawrence(2) SHORTE, 1603
42. Runton Wills of John DAWSON, 1569; William Dawson, 1592; Joane DAWSON, 1598/9; Samuell DAWSON, 1692; and John SALMON, 1790; and Francis DAWSON. Bond Re: Elizabeth DAWSON, 1759.
43. South Creake Will of Edmund DAWSON, 1670
44. Sharrington Notes on Will of John BULLEN, 1812
45. Skeyton Will of Samuel BARBER, 1746
46. Spixworth Indenture of Samuel & John BARBER, 1724
47. Sporle Wills of Benjamin Hodgen, 1762; and Tillitt Hudson, 1828
48. Stanninghall Will of Samuel BARBER, 1797
49. Stiffkey Will of Thomas DAWSON, 1590
50. Swanton Novers Notes on Wills of Frances, 1838 and William DEW 1851; and Wills of Thomas PIGGE 1737; William DAWSON, 1758; Robert BULLEN 1831, and of William MUSSETT 1852; and William DAWSON Intestacy Bond, 1794.
51. Thornham Wills of Thomas DAWSON, 1593/4; and John DAWSON, 1622
52. Thorpe Market Will of Mary BARBER, 1781
53. Tittleshall Will of Luce DAWSON, widow, 1639
54. Weasenham All Saints Will of Thomas CARR
55. Wells-next-the-Sea Will of Thomas DAWSON, 1539
56. Wighton Will of Richard YOUNGMAN, 1795
57. Woodrising Will of David HUGHES, 1609

See also
Several indexes to Norfolk Wills (without the detail given in the index above) have been published by Norfolk Record Society, as follows:

Vol. XVI. Part I. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1370-1550 (A to Hi)
Part II. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1370-1550 (Hi to Ro)
Part III. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1370-1550 (Ro to Z)
Vol. XXI. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1550-1603.
Vol.XXVIII. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1604-1686.
Vol. XXXIV. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1751-1818.
Vol. XLVII. Index of Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1819-1857.
Vol. LVI. A Miscellany.
The Will of Oliver Wyth, 1291.
The Will of Hugh Atte Fenne 1476
The Letters and Will of Thomas Greene (d.1545), Rector of Poringland.
The Letter sand Will of Lady Dorothy Bacon, 1597-1629.
The Autobiography of Elizabeth Oakley 1831-1900.

Most, if not all, of Norfolk Record Society publications are available from Norfolk County Library and many other county libraries.

This page last updated 15th September, 2007.

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