The internet offers unprecedented access to records that allows millions of people to research their family history. Now Ancestry.com, one of the leaders in online genealogical research, has released tens of millions of scanned wills from as far back as the 17th century to today. Included in the trove are the wills of a wide range of historical figures such as Daniel Webster and Paul Revere to business elites such as J.P. Morgan. One of the more commented upon differences from modern wills is the handwritten nature of almost all wills until the early 20th century. It is only in the latter parts of the last century that preprinted forms became more prevalent and type replaced handwriting which is a testament, in part, to technological change. For anyone with a little time on their hands this archive is worth a look for the glimpse into the past it offers.
See Todd Leopold, Paul Revere, J.P. Morgan wills among millions now online, CNN, September 4, 2015.
Special thanks to Sara J. Hudman for bringing this article to my attention.
