Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester: Difference between revisions

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.  

 

The Archdeaconry Court of Colchester probate records is well-covered with the following indexes: <br><br>

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>

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:  

Original (Unregistered) Wills and Registered Wills as well as extant indexes for this court are available on microfilm at the Family History Library and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex), or go to this Family History Library Catalog&nbsp;&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=277892&disp=Probate+records+for+the+court+of+the+Arc%20%20&columns=*,0,0 page]<br>

 

 

The probate records of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester date from 1496 to 1858 and cover 104 parishes in Essex. The records were transferred to the&nbsp;Diocese of London&nbsp;in 1858 and held there until 1958&nbsp;when&nbsp;they&nbsp;were transferred back to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Chelmsford County Hall, where they reside today.<br>

 

 

Before&nbsp;looking for a will, be certain to search for available indexes. County Essex is well-covered with comprehensive indexes for most of its probate courts as listed below.

 

 

A general will index for Essex County is available [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp online].&nbsp; This single index consolidates Essex county wills of the various probate court jurisdictions, including the various smaller Peculiar Court jurisdictions into one database.

 

=== Printed Indexes  ===

 

If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors,&nbsp;look in the '''published indexes '''listed here.

 

The Essex County Record Office compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from&nbsp;eight Essex County probate courts including this court.&nbsp; The index is available in three volumes at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City:

 

*Emmison, F. G., ed.&nbsp; ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford''.&nbsp; London: s.n., 1961,&nbsp;by the British Record Society.&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, and on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)

 

Other&nbsp;handwritten&nbsp;indexes&nbsp;are found listed below under the "Indexes" section. '''Click on the court name links on the Essex County Probate home [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Essex_Probate_Records page].'''

<br>In addition to the general index above, many of the earlier or pre-1585&nbsp;filmed volumes also contain a separate index to the wills and administrations. For an index to&nbsp;the post-1585&nbsp;period, search the&nbsp;[http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp online]&nbsp; county-wide index at the Essex County Record Office website.  

For determining the Family History Library's microfilmed collection of the Archdeaconry Court of Colchester, see the Family History Library Catalog entry for this [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=277892&disp=Probate+records+for+the+court+of+the+Arc%20%20&columns=*,0,0 court].  

 

 

 

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