Devonshire Wills (1 results)

Manuscript. Condition: Very Good. A collection primarily of 18th century manuscript copies of North Devon wills including : Henrietta Walker, of the Strand, 1755; Anne Rolle, 1842; Samuel Rolle, 1745; Robert Cooke, of Kenbury, 1788; Sir Robert Walter, of Sarsden, Oxon, 1731; Lucilla Rolle, of Stevenstone, 1742; Samuel Rolle, 1717; John Rolle, 1729; Edmond Balson, of Frithelstock, 1764; James Aurse, 1761; 'Old Mr Judd', 1740. Condition variable, but all legible. This may have been the collection of the well-known politician, Baron Rolle of Stevenstone, hero of the Rolliad, whose autograph appears to be present. 11 items. Hoskins, W. G, Old Devon(1966), "The greatest disaster in the world of English archives in recent times was the destruction of the probate registry in Exeter in World War 11. In one night in May 1942 the entire contents of the registry in Bedford Circus perish for ever : probably a hundred thousand wills and perhaps half that number of inventories & only a small fraction has ever been copied".