Thanks very much for your info. Yes, that she is dead is the most likely. I was aware of the sixpence legacy but thought this practice had been discontinued before the dates of her parent's wills, 1827 and 1833? Something to do with new laws about wills, etc? Three of her grandparetns died before Elizabeth was born but one, Elinor Shimmin nee Cross, died in 1802 and I will certainly look to see if she made a will. I have never thought about siblings' wills before but that is also a good suggestion, thanks.