Very few women did make wills but certain individuals and categories did. Probate records from the Diocese of Chester going back to 1541 exist and are held at the Preston Archivists office and cover a considerable Geographic area covering North Wales South Lancashire and across to York. There has always been an ambition for people to leave their affairs in order mainly men but also a few Women.
For a married woman to make a valid will there had to be the Husbands consent many wills were made in the presence of a Visitation Minister or legal representative for whom fees were charged. Wills for females going back to the 14th Century exist eg Dionne Jenkins and ? Robinson in1465,and of Margery widow of Roger Ashall stated to be ‘compus mentus’ at the time in 1475.
Pre nuptial agreements were made at this time and documents refer to Femme sole and Femme couvert the latter not having legal rights. A married man and woman were considered to be one person in law..
Improvements to womens legal rights came about as a result of the1833 Fines and Recovery acts and the 1870 and 1882 Womens Property acts. Women left sums of money often became money lenders in the local community. Although female (and all wiils) could be extremely complicated affairs they were at least much less contentious than Oral wills
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