OLD-ENGLISH-L Archives

Archiver > OLD-ENGLISH > 2003-10 > 1067344263


From: Eve McLaughlin <>
Subject: Re: [OEL] Will Headings
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2003 12:31:03 +0000
In-Reply-To: <002901c39c13$d6fc8190$40be4c51@norman2am54tx5>


In message <002901c39c13$d6fc8190$>, norman
CUSTANCE <> writes
>I have about 45 or more of my family CUSTANCE wills in Camb / Norfolk and
>Hunts and all
>start......'In the name of God' etc.
>This will is the exception. Is this unusual ??
It is - and this could mean that the testator was a nonconformist of
some kind, and objected to using the formula dictated by the church. One
simple check - if the executor 'affirms' that he will administer,
instead of swears, then you have a Quaker there.
Otherwise, he might refer in the will to a small bequest to 'the
minister of god's word' or to 'my friends in belief/worship ; which
would suggest an Independent or possibly presbyterian or baptist.
Or, indeed, he was just an individual who didn't follow the herd/
--
Eve McLaughlin

Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians
Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

This thread: