Unk Hiram's
Beginning Genealogy Lessons
Lesson #6

Lesson 6: Wills
I see you survived both marriage licenses and land deeds, are you ready to tackle the big dog? Without a doubt one of the most important tools in your family research is your ancestor's will. This document is a primary source for more information than any other single document.

A will is considered a primary source for the following data:


1. Full legal name (just like the birth certificate)
   
   
2. Spouse's name (if listed)
   
   
3. Children's names (If listed)
   
   
4. Geographic location
   
   
5. Land ownership
   
   
If that wasn't enough reason to want a copy of this document, let me remind you that your ancestor signed (or made his mark) on this document. In most cases this will be the only document you will find that has a copy of his signature.

I want you to stop and think about it for a minute. The reason you are doing genealogy is to get in touch with your roots, to know where you come from, and to establish a link with those long-gone founders of your family line. This document is a tangible link to that ancestor.

You want this document. Make a photocopy of it. Trust me, this document is worth the cost of copying. I do not suggest doing a will abstract on your main line ancestors because you want this document.

After you copy your main line ancestral will, you want to take a look at the rest of the wills in the same time zone. Carefully go through these wills looking at witnesses, and the people who received endowments. If they bequeathed land, pay attention to the boundaries. Don't accidently overlook a reference to your ancestor as a witness or as a neighbor.

Read these documents, don't just file them. They will give you an insight into what your ancestors considered valuable. They are a window into the souls of the people that founded your family line. Some of the items listed in these wills might surprise you. If you are from the South, they might shock you.

Q & A Section:

1. A Will is considered a primary source for which of the following items?
   
   1. Full legal name
      
   2. Spouse's name (if listed)
      
   3. Geographic location
      
   4. All of the above
      
   
   
2. The will is a tangible link to your ancestor because?
   
   1. Your ancestor signed it.
      
   2. It's a legal document.
      
   3. The County Clerk's stamp
      
   4. It's from Maine
      
   
   
3. The reason you check other wills from the same time zone is?
   
   1. Uncle Hiram told you too.
      
   2. Looking for references to your ancestor as a witness or neighbor.
      
   3. Because it irritates the County Clerk
      
   4. Because we are nosey.
      

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