The wills belonging to persons dying in the North of Lancashire, that is, in that part of that county lying to the north of the river Ribble, which flows through Preston, and the parts of Cumberland and Westmoreland belonging to the old diocese of Chester, were as a rule proved at Richmond, in Yorkshire, that place being far more accessible to the inhabitants of that district than Chester. These " Richmond Wills," as they were called, proved previous to the year 1748, were a few years since removed to Somerset House, London. The Lancashire wills, proved at Richmond, between the years 1457 to 1680 and 1681 to 1748 respectively, and now extant, will be found. All the wills proved at Richmond between the years 1748 and 1858 are now preserved at Lancaster, and can be there consulted.
