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Dorset Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Dorset]]'' | ''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Dorset]]'' | ||
<br>The following article is about probate records in the county of Dorset. For general information about English probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].<br> | <br>The following article is about probate records in the county of Dorset. For general information about English probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].<br> | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
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''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term ''probate'' refers to a collection of documents, including [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]], [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]] (also called admons), [[I genealogical glossary terms|inventories]], and [[A genealogical glossary terms|act books]]. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will. | ''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term ''probate'' refers to a collection of documents, including [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]], [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]] (also called admons), [[I genealogical glossary terms|inventories]], and [[A genealogical glossary terms|act books]]. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will. | ||
Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The '''Probates After 1857''' section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.<br><br> | Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The '''Probates After 1857''' section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.<br><br> | ||
== Getting Started == | == Getting Started == | ||
Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858:<br> | Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858:<br> | ||
#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br> | #Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br> | ||
#Go to the Court Jurisdictions section below.<br> | #Go to the Court Jurisdictions section below.<br> | ||
#Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens an article showing a table of places and the courts that had jurisdiction over them.<br> | #Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens an article showing a table of places and the courts that had jurisdiction over them.<br> | ||
#Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.<br><br> | #Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.<br><br> | ||
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[[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A|A]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes B|B]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C & D|C-D]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes E Through G|E-G]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes H Through K|H-K]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes L & M|L-M]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes N Through R|N-R]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes S Through U|S-U]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes W Through Y|W-Y]] | [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A|A]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes B|B]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C & D|C-D]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes E Through G|E-G]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes H Through K|H-K]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes L & M|L-M]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes N Through R|N-R]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes S Through U|S-U]], [[Dorset Probate Jurisdictions Parishes W Through Y|W-Y]] | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
== Dorset Probate Courts == | == Dorset Probate Courts == | ||
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*[[Court of the Prebendal Peculiar of Yetminster|Court of the Prebendal Peculiar of Yetminster]] | *[[Court of the Prebendal Peculiar of Yetminster|Court of the Prebendal Peculiar of Yetminster]] | ||
In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br> | In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br> | ||
*Wealthy individuals | *Wealthy individuals | ||
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The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also acted as an appeals court. | The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also acted as an appeals court. | ||
== Probate Indexes Online == | == Probate Indexes Online == | ||
Before looking for a will, you should search an index. <br> | Before looking for a will, you should search an index. The following index, 1540-1858, covers many parishes and places: <br> | ||
[http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/index.php http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/index.php] | [http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/index.php http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/index.php] | ||
''' | '''<br>'''This catalogue gives access to wills and other probate records of the diocese of Salisbury which used to cover not only Wiltshire but also Berkshire (under certain circumstances) and parts of Dorset and Devon. You can search for people by name, place, occupation and date. Searching the catalogue is FREE. In addition, there are digital images for some of the documents (just over 25%) which can be viewed following on-line payment or free of charge by people visiting the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. Wills and inventories give useful information about people’s financial status and property, and also their family relationships and friendships, which make them a wonderful resource for family and local history. | ||
This catalogue gives access to wills and other probate records of the diocese of Salisbury which used to cover not only Wiltshire but also Berkshire (under certain circumstances) and parts of Dorset and Devon. You can search for people by name, place, occupation and date | |||
[http://members.iinet.net.au/~suegar/ http://members.iinet.net.au/~suegar/] | [http://members.iinet.net.au/~suegar/ http://members.iinet.net.au/~suegar/] | ||
FOR RECORDS FROM <br>SWANAGE - LANGTON MATRAVERS - WORTH MATRAVERS - STUDLAND - CHURCH KNOWLE<br> | FOR RECORDS FROM <br>SWANAGE - LANGTON MATRAVERS - WORTH MATRAVERS - STUDLAND - CHURCH KNOWLE<br> | ||
A calendar of wills and administrations relating to the county of Dorset : proved in the Consistory court (Dorsetshire division) of the late diocese of Bristol, 1681-1792, and in the Archdeaconry court of Dorset, 1568-1792, and in the several peculiars, 1660-1799, all now preserved at the probate registry, Blandford [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=211008&disp=A+calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | A calendar of wills and administrations relating to the county of Dorset : proved in the Consistory court (Dorsetshire division) of the late diocese of Bristol, 1681-1792, and in the Archdeaconry court of Dorset, 1568-1792, and in the several peculiars, 1660-1799, all now preserved at the probate registry, Blandford [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=211008&disp=A+calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | ||
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== Probate Indexes == | == Probate Indexes == | ||
A calendar of wills and administrations relating to the county of Dorset : proved in the Consistory court (Dorsetshire division) of the late diocese of Bristol, 1681-1792, and in the Archdeaconry court of Dorset, 1568-1792, and in the several peculiars, 1660-1799, all now preserved at the probate registry, Blandford [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=211433&disp=A+calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | *A calendar of wills and administrations relating to the county of Dorset : proved in the Consistory court (Dorsetshire division) of the late diocese of Bristol, 1681-1792, and in the Archdeaconry court of Dorset, 1568-1792, and in the several peculiars, 1660-1799, all now preserved at the probate registry, Blandford [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=211433&disp=A+calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | ||
*Church of England. Archdeaconry of Dorset. Court Probate records, 1568-1857 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=236036&disp=Probate+records++] | |||
Peculiar Court Wimborne Minster Probate records, 1603-1857 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=300911&disp=Probate+records%2C+1603%2D1857%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | *Indexes to Sarum peculiar courts 1462-1800 which cover Chardstock 1639-1799, Fordington 1660-1799, Lyne Regis and Halstock 1664-1799, Netherbury and Beaminster 1608-1799, Preston and Sutton Pointz 1761-1799, Yatminster and Grimston 1654-1799, and Gillingham 1658-1799 FHL Film 97430 Indexes to Sarum peculiar courts early to 1857 FHL Film 97429[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=300055&disp=Wills%2C+original+and+registered+of+the+++] | ||
*Peculiar Court of Great Canford and Poole Probate records, 1650-1857[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=300731&disp=Probate+records%2C+1650%2D1857%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Peculiar Court Corfe Castle Probate records, 1576-1846 Includes the Chapelry of Kingston[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=300683&disp=Probate+records%2C+1576%2D1846%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Peculiar Court of Sturminister Marshall Probate records, 1641-1857 Jurisdiction: Sturminister Marshall, Corfe Mullen, Hamworth and Lytchet Minister [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=300661&disp=Probate+records%2C+1641%2D1857%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Peculiar Court Wimborne Minster Probate records, 1603-1857 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=300911&disp=Probate+records%2C+1603%2D1857%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Wills at Salisbury 1464-1858 Contents: v. 122. A-K -- v. 123. K-Z. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1647597&disp=Wills+at+Salisbury+1464%2D1858%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Calendars of wills and administrations relating to the county of Dorset [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=473422&disp=Calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+in%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*The Genealogists' magazine - v. 5 (1929-1931) Miscellaneous Dorset Wills from the Episcopal Consistory Court of Sarum: A-B, 1550-1737 pages 140-141; C-F, 1550-1737, pages 172-173; F-Loc, 1555-1810, pages 209-210; Lon-RE, 1560-1805, Pages 248-249; Ri-W, 1556-1731, pages 278-280 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1188872&disp=v%2E++5+%281929%2D1931%29%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Notes and queries for Somerset and Dorset - v. 27 (1955-1960) pages 229-233 | |||
*Manorial Court of Frampton 1678-1755 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1182592&disp=v%2E+27+%281955%2D1960%29%20%20&columns=*,0,0] | |||
*Court books for the manor and liberty of Frampton, 1670-1881 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=446522&disp=Court+books+for+the+manor+and+liberty+of++] | |||
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Dorset Probate Courts == | == Some Explanatory Notes on the Dorset Probate Courts == | ||
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It is known that probate records were kept for Fampton, 1678-1755, and evidently none were proved after this date; however, probates of people in this area may well be found in surrounding courts throughout the period, as well as after 1755. | It is known that probate records were kept for Fampton, 1678-1755, and evidently none were proved after this date; however, probates of people in this area may well be found in surrounding courts throughout the period, as well as after 1755. | ||
It is said that Burton Bradstock was independent in probate matters, in which case there may be probate information in the Manorial Records which are still in the custody of the Lord of the Manor. | It is said that Burton Bradstock was independent in probate matters, in which case there may be probate information in the Manorial Records which are still in the custody of the Lord of the Manor.<br> | ||
<br> | |||
== Estate Duty Records<br> == | == Estate Duty Records<br> == | ||
Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere. Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]]. | Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere. Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]]. | ||
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== <br>Probates After 1857 == | == <br>Probates After 1857 == | ||
Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system. For more information, go to [[Principal Probate Registry]].<br> | Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system. For more information, go to [[Principal Probate Registry]].<br> | ||
[[Category:Dorset]] | [[Category:Dorset]] | ||