P.C.C wills

[myghaelangof]

Can anyone advise me on the classification of PCC wills. In particular I am looking at the will of a John PALMER of Kentishtown London, from 1542, classified as "33 Bennet".
I would have expected 33 Henry VIII. Why Bennet? Is it just coincidental that 1542 was the 33rd year of Hnery VIII's reign?

Thanks for looking at this.

[Cornish Terrier]

Hi Mike - I am not sure that I will be able to help but it might be useful if you could explain exactly how this appears in the Will. The mention of Henry VIII suggests that it is to do with the date the Will was written but if you could provide the details in context it might offer some clues.

e.g. written this day 23rd October 33 Bennet

If possible the complete sentence along with anything that appears relevent immediately before or after could be of potential help.

CT

Of course it is possible that Trencrom or Lipkatatar might jump in with the answer beforehand!

[lipkatatar]

Probate records, as well as having a catalogue reference, such as Prob 11/29, also have a piece name reference, such as 33 Bennet. For example, the register Prob 11/16 covering 1508-1511 has the reference name "Bennet" I do not know what the naming convention for probate registers was, as some register names appear to be places while others appear to be surnames. The numbers preceding the reference names of the registers do not appear to correspond to particular years. It is probably a complete coincidence that the probate of the will of John Palmer in 1542 had the reference "33 Bennet."

[myghaelangof]

Thank you for your response CT and Lipkatatar. I'd agree totally with Lipkatatar that it is coincidental. As Trencrom will be aware i am still hunting the elusive origins of Bennet Shakerley of St Just, and am currently looking at the London Shakerleys of the 1500's as there appear to be a few tenuous Cornish connections. John Palmer was the father in law of Francis Shakerley of St Pauls and Ditton. After getting google eyed all day Sunday I was looking for any possible reason the christian name Bennet came into the Shakerley family. Thanks again

Mike

[trencrom]

Mike,
These are older style references to PCC wills. IIRC, each year's collection was named after a prominent testator who died that year. Each of the other wills for that year was therefore numbered accordinly, eg 1 Bennett, 2 Bennett etc. So the fact that the number for the will that you are interested in may have been also the then regnal year of the reigning monarch is just coincidence, nothing more.

Trencrom

[donne]

Bear in mind as well that regnal years do not align with calendar years. The regnal years for Henry VIII start on 22 April, the date he came to the throne.

[myghaelangof]

Thanks Trencrom and Donne.
I have found some information about the collection called "Palmer". It seems that the first will in this collection was for a Thomas PALMER whose will dates from 1492. Therefore, from your useful responses and this latest info, I guess the first will in the "Bennet" collection is for an individual caled Bennet! :-)