This is a complete record of all Wholey Wills and Letters of Administration, from 1854 to 1900. Wills provide a wealth of genealogical information, and all copies held by the Wholey FHS are reproduced in full within this index. These documents are Crown Copyright and are published by permission of the National Archives. Letters of Administration were provided when the deceased did not leave a Will, and had an estate to administer, especially if shares or property was involved. Most of the wills and letters of administration belong to members of two family trees, Lincolnshire (W2) and Derbyshire (W3) and there are direct links to more information at the end of each entry.

This page also contains earlier wills as found through other means. This is not a complete record and is a work in progress.

1750: Francis Whooly. On the fifth day adcon of His Goods - Chattles and Credits of Francis Whooly late belonging to his Majestie's Ship the Antelope a Battleship [illegible] was granted to Anne Whooly, widow [illegible] and lawful mother and next of kin of the said deceased being first sworn (by [illegible]) Duly to administer. September. March 1750 [very hard to read]

1859: Wholey, Sarah wife of William Wholey heretofore Hutchinson Spinster late of Astwith in Ault Hucknall. Died 13 April 1851 at Astwith, Administration 19th August William Wholey farmer. (Wholey Family W3)

1861: "On the Nineteenth say of July 1861, Letters of Administration of all and singular the personal Estate and Effects of Thomas Crossby Wholey late of Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln Grocer, deceased who died on the Twenty ninth day of June 1861, at Gainsborough aforesaid Intestate were granted at the District Registry attached to Her Majesty's Court of probate at Lincoln to Elizabeth Wholey Gainsborough aforesaid the lawful Widow and Relict of the said deceased, she having been first sworn to administer. John Watkinson of Gainsborough aforesaid Gentleman and John Plumber of the City of Lincoln Grocer. Effects £1500 - No leaseholds Extracted by Tweed & Hughes, Solicitors Lincoln." (Wholey Family W2)

1864: Wholah, William of Middleton in Teesdale in Durham, shoemaker. Died 5 November 1864, probate 22nd November Hannah Wholah widow. Effects under £100.

1865: "1865 January the 14th 12 Bailgate Lincoln - I William Wholey Junior of 12 Bailgate do give & bequeath to my sister Rebecca Kent of the City of Lincoln the sum of Twenty Pounds, to my sister Harriet Keyworth 10£ also to Jane Hoyle of St. Pauls the sum of 10£ also to Elizabeth Payne of Sheffield the sum of Ten Pounds also to Charlotte Wholey Ten Pounds also to Ann Wholey both of the Bail the sum of Ten Pounds also to John Wholey of the City of Lincoln the sum of Ten Pounds and my silver watch I give and bequeath after these legacies are paid the residue of my money and wearing apparrell and all my effects for their whole & sole use of my Father & Mother William & Rebecca Wholey of the Bail Lincoln dated this Fourteenth day of January One thousand eight hundred and sixty five this my last Will & Testament ~ W. Wholey ~ Witness Thos Lewis - John Hickson.

In Her Majestys Court of Probate. The District Registry at Lincoln. In the Goods of William Wholey the younger deceased - J. Thomas Lewis of No. 11 Bailgate in the City of Lincoln Brazier make Oath that I am one of the subscribing Witness to the Last Will and Testament of William Wholey the younger late of No. 12 Bailgate in the City of Lincoln deceased the said Will being now hereunto annexed bearing date the Fourteenth day of January One Thous and eight hundred and sixty five and that the Testator executed the said Will on the day of the date thereof by signing his name at the foot or end thereof as the same now appears thereon in the presence of me and of John Hickson the other subscribed Witness thereto both of us being present at the same time and we thereupon attested and subscribed the said Will in the presence of the said Testator ~ Thomas Lewis ~ Sworn at the City of Lincoln on the Seventh day of February 1865 Before me John Swan District Registrar.

At Lincoln on the Ninth day of February 1865 Administration (with the Will annexed) of the personal estate and effects of William Wholey the younger late of No 12 Bailgate in the City of Lincoln deceased who died on the Fifteenth day of January 1865 at Bailgate aforesaid was granted to William Wholey the father one of the residuary Legatees named in the said Will he having been first sworn - No Executors being named in the said Will - Under £300.

Lincoln 16th February 1865." (Certificate) (Wholey Family W2)

1872: Wholey, William farmer of Astwith Ault Hucknall died 18th November 1871. Probate 27 March to John Wholey brother, a grocer. Effects under £200. (Wholey Family W3)

1876: Wholey, John formerly of Dewsbury York, but late of Tansley in Derby, died 20th March 1876. Probate 4 April Ann Wholey widow. Effects under £3,000. (Wholey Family W3)

1880: Wholey, Ann wife of Thomas Wholey late of Pilsley in Parish of North Wingfield, died 16th May 1880. Probate 27 July son George Wholey, Robert Cooper. Effects under £200. (Wholey Family W3)

1881: Wholey, Ann late of Riber near Matlock, widow died 4 July 1881. Probate 2 September proved by William Wholey of Astwith in Parish of Ault Hucknall, nephew. Effects £1,720 5s 6d. (Wholey Family W3)

1884: Wholey, John late of 30 Suffolk-place snow's fields Bermondsey, bachelor, died 23rd November 1884. Administration 8 December, William Wholey Agricultural Labourer Brother. Effects £108.

1886: "I Daniel Wholey of number 5 Market Hill Shadwell do make this me last Will and Testament I appoint the Reverend Patrick O'Callaghan of St. Mary's and St. Michael's Commercial Road East sole Executor of this my last Will and I give and bequeath to him the sum of twenty pounds sterling free from legacy duty I give and bequeath to the Rev. Patrick O'Callaghan my aforesaid Executor all the property to which I may be entitled at the time of my death in trust to be employed for the support of my four children till they shall attain the age of twenty one years respectively or till the date of their marriage should any of them get married before reaching the age of twenty one I direct and appoint that my Executor shall pay one hundred pounds to each of my two sons Daniel and John Wholley when they reach the age of twenty one and to my daughter Catherine Wholley when marrying with the approbation of my Executor a sum not to exceed three hundred pounds. All the remainder of my estate I bequeath for the sole use and benefit of my youngest daughter Mary Wholley. Signed and declared to be my last Will and Testament this twenty fifth day of June 1886 - Daniel Wholey - In the presence of us witnesses who in his presence and in the presence of each other have here signed our name - Catherine Sullivan - Eliza Speigth. Affidavit of due execution of Will filed. On the 9th October 1886 Probate of this Will was granted to the Reverend Patrick O'Callaghan Cleric the sole Executor." died 21st August 1886. Effects £1,9995 2s 6d.

1886: Wholey, Robert Jarvis late of 43 Hodgson St in Kingston-upon-Hull, died 18th November 1885. Administration 13 May Sarah Wholey widow of 139 Hodgson St. Effects £228 10s. (Wholey Family W2)

1887: Wholey, Jane spinster late of Allestree Derby, died 3rd September 1887. Probate 25 November effects £74 6s 9d.

"I Jane Wholey of Allestree in the County of Derby Spinster, and retired Housekeeper do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say I will and direct that all my just depts funeral and Testamentary expenses be paid by my Executors herinafter named I will and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Florence Wholey the sum of ten pounds also to my Grandaughter Clara Jane Wholey the sum of Twenty pounds also to my Grandson John Brian Wholey the sum of Twenty pounds also to my Grandson Walter John Wholey the sum of twenty pounds also my Varnished Oak Bedstead, Bed, Boulster and Pillows, also my Oak Chest to my aforesaid Grandson John Brian Wholey, likewise the whole of my cloths to be equally divided between my aforesaid two Granddaughters & I will bequeath unto my son John Wholey of Allestree, Father of the above named children the residue of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever found, Provided my estate at my decease does not amount to sufficient to pay the above legacies in full they must be paid in proportion to the amount. And lastly I make constitute and appoint Brian Nix, Farmer and Butcher of Pilsley and Reuben Hollis, Brewer and Publican of Pilsley my Executors of this my will, hereby revoking and making void all former or other Wills heretofore by me made and I declare this to be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I the said Jane Wholey have set my hand this 16 day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty six. Jane Wholey

Signed by the said Jane Wholey the Testatrix in the joint presence of us, who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other hereunto subscribe our names as witnesses. Henry Wilson, George Stacey Proved at Derby the 25th day of November 1887 by the Oaths of Brian Nix and Reuben Hollis the Executors to whom Administration was granted. The Testatrix Jane Wholey was late of Allestree in the County of Derby, Spinster, and died on the 3rd day of September 1887, at Allestree aforesaid. Gross value of Personal Estate £74 6s 9d. Extracted by the Executors." (Wholey Family W3)

1887: Wholey, William Grant late of Alford Lincoln, Agriculture Implement maker, died 23rd July 1887. Administration 26 August Ann Wholey of Alford widow. Effects £338 4s (Wholey Family W2)

1891: Wholey, Elizabeth late of 2 Mayfield Road Handsworth Stafford, widow, died 4th Amy 1891. Administration 19 June granted to Thomas Wholey of 7 Storey's-gate St. James Park in Middlesex Surgeon the son and one of the next of kin. (Wholey Family W2)

1891: Wholey, Thomas Crossby died 29th March 1861 Gainsbro' Administration 3 September left unadministered by Elizabeth given to Thomas of above. (Wholey Family W2)

1894: "THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me JOHN WHOLEY of Gunby in the County of Lincoln Innkeeper I give devise and bequeath All my real leasehold and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy or over which I now have or at the time of my decease shall have any power of disposition unto my dear Wife Mary Wholey her heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely I devise and bequeath all Estates vested in me as a Trustee or Mortgagee unto my said wife her heirs executors and administrators subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same respectively and I appoint my said wife sole Executrix hereof hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this thirty first day of December One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven - JOHN WHOLEY - Signed by the said John Wholey the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses THOS WM THIMBLELEY Solr Spilsby - ARTHUR HARDY his clerk. On the 13th day of December 1894 Probate of this Will was granted to Mary Wholey Widow the sole Executrix." died 2nd December 1894. Effects £265. (Wholey Family W2)

1894: Wholey, Rebecca late of Pilsley North Wingfield, wife of George Wholey Colliery bankman, died 1 August 1893. Probate effects £2 11s. (Wholey Family W3)

1900: Wholey, Ann of Heath Derbyshire (wife of William Wholey) died 26 May 1891, Administration Derby 5 October to William Wholey farmer. Effects £352.

1900: Wholey, Robert Crossby of 95 Columbia-Road Bethnal Green Middlesex beer-retailer died 8 Dec. 1899, Administration London 1 January to Elizabeth Ann Wholey widow. Effects £32. (Wholey Family W2)