Any plans for a new challenge?

[ElizabethHerts]

Originally Posted by kiterunner

That was supposed to be part of TOGG etc, Elizabeth - the templates include a slot for probate details.

That's true - but how hard did people look for wills for these people?

[Guinevere]

There is loads available on the web now and more being added. Some brick walls could finally tumble.

[ElizabethHerts]

Originally Posted by Guinevere

There is loads available on the web now and more being added. Some brick walls could finally tumble.

That's right, Gwynne. This is why it's always good to re-visit one's research to add new information. So many county records' offices have online indexes now, so it's much easier to find wills than 10 years ago. Ancestry have PCC wills, London wills and Surrey wills, and FMP has Oxfordshire wills and Cheshire wills.
It's much easier to find probate records now.

I remember going into London and ploughing through the probate books, spending all day and going home with perhaps four or five. Now we have the probate calendar online.

[Jenoco]

I'm all for getting help on brick walls! I'm not sure of the best way to break down the many that might be posted, but perhaps by location or time period to start with. Not many of mine have left wills, although I appreciate that others will have ancestors who have.

[kiterunner]

The idea of the TOG threads was for people to take the lead in researching their own ancestors, but with others chipping in to help. I think whatever replaces it needs to work the same way.

I should think there are already threads on here for most members' brick walls, and a lot of those will be TOG threads anyway, so we don't really want to go over the same ground too much again, but of course people are always welcome to bump one of their old TOG threads up asking whether anyone has any fresh ideas.

[marquette]

Now I think about it, Kiterunner, I probably have really posted all my brickwalls on the TOG threads, thats where I run out of information.

What about a challenge to solve other mysteries ? Or suggestions of places to look for information on events or places, other than directly about people ?

For Example: I know that Thomas Brazill, who was ship owner and captain, was captured by the French in the February of 1807, off the east coast of England, and remained a prisoner of the French until about 1814.

My questions are - where is "Besona" in France, where he was supposedly held ? What did he do for 7 years while there ? Could he work at something, was he in a jail ?
The only information I can find by googling is about French prisoners in England.

I also have questions about a paper mill in Berkshire, although I do know a bit about it, and questions about inheritance of such things, when there are no children to inherit.

Maybe others might have similar sorts of questions, otherwise it would be a really short challenge topic.

Originally Posted by marquette

I also have questions about a paper mill in Berkshire...

Which one?

[marquette]

Whistley Paper Mill, near Hurst.
I dont want to hijack this thread with it, so perhaps we would be better to continue this somewhere else ?

[kiterunner]

You can post those questions on the Research Questions board, Marquette.

[marquette]

I guess so, some of them are already in my TOGG posts though. I was trying to think of a different sort of challenge, that's all.