Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester: Difference between revisions

== Starting Your Search in Indexes ==

1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.<br>2. Proceed to the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.<br>3. Contact or visit the Essex County Record Office or,&nbsp;hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.<br>4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records;&nbsp;then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the&nbsp;original wills and admons also&nbsp;on microfilm via any&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp centers]&nbsp;near you.

A general will index for Essex County is available &nbsp; [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp online]. This single index consolidates just about all Essex county wills of the various probate court jurisdictions into one database.<br>

*Emmison, F. G., ed.&nbsp; ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford''.&nbsp; (FHL book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=247479&disp=Wills+at+Chelmsford+%28Essex+and+East+He%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 B4b] vols. 78, 79 &amp; 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740; also on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)

In addition to the calendars, a majority of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are alphabetically arranged at the Record Office and are likewise organized on the microfilmed probates for this court at the Family History Library. Visit the Essex County &nbsp;[http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/gui.jsp?channelOid=13813&guideOid=14783 Archives] or the Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=topicdetails&subject=358118&subject_disp=England%2C+Essex+%2D+Probate+records&columns=*,0,0 Catalog] under Essex, England to determine the film numbers&nbsp;of the following records&nbsp;to search:  

Calendar Registered and Un-Registered Wills and Admons 1688-1857 vols 5-6  

Administrations for the years 1678 to 1857 are&nbsp;available at the Essex County Record Office, Chelmsford, U.K. The Family History Library has on microfilm, many of the administrations&nbsp;(or Admons)&nbsp; from 1688-1858.<br>To view a list of parishes and their&nbsp;respective probate court jurisdiction, see the "Essex [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Essex_Probate_Records Parishes] Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" on the main page for Essex Probate Records.