Wills and where to find them

[hiflier]

My ancestor died in Bolton, Lancashire in 1767. He only had property in Lancashire and possibly Yorkshire. Where will I find a copy of his will if he ever made one?

[dotty.]

At Bow Lane Record Office in Preston. It is possible it went through the Richmond court but it would still be at Bow lane, if it wasn't Richmond it would be chester.
unless he didn't have a will and letters of administration were applied for, even they would be in bow lane, this is because prior to 1858 the diocese were responsible for wills and bow lane record office in preston is now the diocesan record office as well.
I think you can check for it online hang on,
http://www.lancashire...4528&pageid=30539&e=e

also, the Lancashire Parish register society or the antiquarian society have indexed the wills 40 odd years ago and published the index which should be available in any lancashire reference library.

[dotty.]

Lancashire was in the diocese of chester south of the ribble and richmond north of the ribble, estates less than £40 or infra wills are in one seperate index up to 1800.

[dotty.]

If you are not from lancashire i can nip into chorley library tomorrow and look through the index for 1545-1857 if you give me more detail