Why are there handwritten comments on a Probate Index entry?
Q
My 3x great grandmother, Anne Lewis of Bridgnorth, died on 24 November 1879. Her will was proved at Shrewsbury on 17 January 1880 by the oath of John I’Anson Bromwich, the sole surviving executor. The entry in the National Probate Index in May 1884 states “Personal Estate under £2,000”, but “Resworn May 1884 under £3,000” has been added by hand. Why is this? Bob Starratt
A
When Anne Lewis wrote her will, she appointed two executors. The older man, Henry (her “adviser”), probably had some knowledge of her affairs, while John was to assist him. Anne cannot have foreseen that Henry, aged 64, would die soon after she did, leaving John to deal with the probate alone. Required within a few weeks to estimate the maximum value of the estate, he judged it under £2,000. Probate was granted at Shrewsbury and entered into the printed National Probate Calendar for that year, 1880.
Censuses reveal that in 1851, Anne was a wine merchant employing two men, assisted by her son Charles. By 1861, he was the head of the household, Anne being described as an “annuitant”, receiving income from an annuity. In 1871, she was the head and, aged 81, still trading. Assuming this continued until her death, the value of the business and stock had to be assessed. Perhaps without detailed knowledge of her affairs, John substantially underestimated what she was worth.
If she had shares or other investments, her executor would have had to sell these. Perhaps they showed greater returns than originally anticipated. Whatever the reasons, by 1884 it was clear the estimate was too low, hence the need to repeat the oath, now for £3,000. The handwritten amendment is not in the volume digitised by ancestry.co.uk, but appears on www.gov.uk/search-will-probate.
Death duties were payable at this time. Estate Duty Office registers will reveal what happened to Anne’s personal estate and its total value. These can be viewed at
The National Archives in Kew, class IR26. Unfortunately they are not available online. Margaret McGregor