Family Tree
Life at sea was dangerous for your ancestors, so they may have made arrangements before leaving. Richard Holt explains how to…
Search Royal Navy and Marine wills
Many sailors made wills before departing, knowing that accidents and disease meant there was a significant chance they may not return. However, fraud was common (forged wills were used to claim unpaid wages), so in 1786 the Admiralty set up the Inspector of Wills. This office registered and checked sailors’ wills to make sure they were genuine, creating a valuable archive you can search today.