National Probate Indexes

Regular readers will know that my mother passed away a short while ago and with all the travelling backwards and forwards sorting out probate and the house means that it is not easy to follow some research through but it has meant that I have been able to do some tidying up and also catch up on some of the silly tasks that for a one-namer can be awkward to keep on top of,

One of those was updating the database with the details of over 2,500 wills from the National Probate indexes from 1858 available on both Ancestry and Findmypast to about the 1960's but the government has released it own site which has details right up to the present day. You will find details here.

Like all indexes of this type you always come across someone that you can't pin down in the master database. So far I have covered the period to 1955 and some 1,500 entries but have been unable to resolve the following.

If you know who they are please let me know!


Allan Payne Halstead RAMSAY died 4 September 1873 in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire but have been unsuccessful in finding a link to the Halstead name. Letters of Administration were granted to his wife Harriett Elizabeth on 26 September 1873 and the estate was valued at less than £1,500


Susan Margaret HALSTEAD died on 2 December 1896, a spinster residing at 64 Horne Street, Bury. Letters of Administration were granted on 1 August 1903 to Ernest HALSTEAD. Whilst there was a death of a Susan HALSTEAD in 1896 she was only 5 years old according to FreeBMD.

Sarah HALSEAD died on 20 May 1903, a spinster aged 67 in the Asylum at Prestwich. Letters of Administration were granted to William James HALSTEAD on 22 June 1903. The estate was valued at £633.

John HALSTED died on 28 March 1905, aged 47 at 11 Lawn Terrace, Blackheath, Kent. The estate was valued at £2,810 14s 0d

Denis Halsted CHRISTIE died in France on 21 September 1918, whilst the details of his parents are included in the De Ruvigny's Roll I can trace no links to the Halsted name. Anyone have him in their family?

Betsey HALSTEAD, wife of James HALSTEAD, died 7 January 1920 at Lee Gate Farm, Nelson. The only Betsey who marries a James HALSTEAD is Betsey BROWN in 1913. This is partly born out by the burial on the 20th January 1920 at the Wheatley Lane Inghamite Chapel of Betsey aged 66, with of James HALSTEAD and formerly widow of David BROWN. This certainly looks the right burial even if the date difference is a little long for that time. However the address on the probate record is Lee Gate Farm but the burial is 12 Church Street, Barrowford. There is only one death of a Betsey (or variant) in Q1 1920.