These records can tell you much about their lifestyle, as well as pointing to other potential record types that you may want to search. Among the records left by our ancestors are those which may reveal their relationships with others, indicate their level of education, point to their profession, or show other life activities, signify their social status, and suggest their financial situation. As you discover these documents, it is important to look at them with an eye toward what they just might indicate. Unless you maintain an open mind to what you are examining, it is possible to overlook important clues. The following records are prime examples of records that might describe or reflect your ancestor's assets and therefore may provide a greater insight to their situation and, by extension, point toward additional records.
Wills are wonderful documents.
The bequests they contain certainly tell you about the extent of a person's assets and about the relationships with the recipients. A will often states the relationship between the testator and the beneficiary, and sometimes the reason why one beneficiary receives a greater share of the estate than another, or why one is purposefully excluded. That is why the next document is important. Concentrate on the details you find here. The presence of books is indicative of education and, by extension, a higher earning potential, greater financial status, and possibly higher social status.