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Wiltshire Wills Project introduction | History of the wills within our collection | What is a will? Search the online catalogue of wills here! In the early modern period, wills were often made when the testator was "nigh unto death". Many wills begin like Widow Benet Allum's - her will of 1642 explains she is
and in his will 1681 Edward Wallis confesses himself to be
Luckily, "The liberty of making a testament doth continue even until the last gasp," according to Henry Swinburne in his A Briefe Treatise of Testaments and Last Wills (1596). If it was too late to make a written will, a testator could recite their wishes on their deathbed in the form of a spoken will, technically called nuncupative, of which there are many examples within our collection: about 2.5% of the wills are nuncupative. Nuncupative wills often have a story: a memorable one is that of Nicholas Perry senior dated 1627. His will was remembered by his son, and proved.  Will of Nicholas Perry, 1627 (ref: P4/1627/4) Click here to see the catalogue entry for this will Click for a transcript of this will Wills could even be shouted out of a window, as witnesses could be understandably wary of entering a house of sickness. And it was not just illness that prevented a testator making a will until the last minute. The wife of Henry Hunt of Enford, grandfather of Henry `Orator´ Hunt, tried to prevent her husband making a will in 1773.  Nuncupative will of Henry Hunt, 1773 (ref: P1/H/1231) Click for a transcript of this will Click here for the catalogue listing for this will
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