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References to American Colonists in English Wills

England Gotoarrow.png England Probate Records

Wills in England are often used by Americans to trace the origins of their colonial ancestors. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several scholars read Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills seeking references to American colonists, including Henry F. Waters, Lothrop Withington, H. Henry Lea, and J.R. Hutchinson. Later, Peter Wilson Coldham made extensive searches, expanding to other London probate courts. Leslie Mahler is currently investigating these and other probate courts for additional references to American colonists and their ancestors. Here is a list of wills that have been read:

Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Bedfordshire

Cheshire

  • 1651-1659 - Consistory Court of Chester, Original Wills, findmypast. NM

Dorset

  • pre-1701 - Peculiar Court of Canford and Poole, Original Wills, Ancestry. NM.

Essex

Gloucestershire

  • 1652-1659 - Consistory Court of Gloucester, Registered Wills, Ancestry. NM.
  • 1688-1689 - Consistory Court of Gloucester. LM.

Kent

  • 1671-1702 - Peculiar Court of the Rector of Cliffe, Registered Wills, FamilySearch. NM.

London

Middlesex

  • 1622-1636 - Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, Registered Wills, Camden, FS Library film 94257. LM.
  • 1636-1642 - Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, Registered Wills, Todd, FS Library film 94257. LM.
  • 1660-1667 - Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, Registered Wills, Smith, FS Library film 94257. LM.

Norfolk

Archdeaconry Court of Norfolk
Consistory Court of Norwich
Peculiar Court of Great Cressingham
  • 1675-1742 - Peculiar Court of Great Cressingham, Registered Wills; Digital images. NM.

Worcestershire

Consistory Court of Worcester

No direct references to American colonists were found in any of the following wills:

Explanations

LM = Read by Leslie Mahler, FASG

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mahler, Leslie. "American Colonists in English Wills," The Genealogist 17 (2003):167-174.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mahler, Leslie. "American Colonists Mentioned in London Wills," The Genealogist 14 (2000):201-205.
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