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Buckinghamshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Buckinghamshire]] | [[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Buckinghamshire]] | ||
== | == Getting Started == | ||
''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. Probate records include [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]] and [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]]. This article is about probate records in Buckinghamshire. For a general description of England probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]]. | |||
=== 1858 to the Present === | |||
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more. | |||
=== Before 1858 === | |||
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Buckinghamshire, follow these steps: | |||
==== Step 1. Search Indexes ==== | |||
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Buckinghamshire. Search these indexes first: | |||
*[http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml] -- compiled by the Sussex Family History Group which has transcribed the names of 12,300 individuals found in Sussex wills, including testators, executors, beneficiaries or witnesses. The information recorded includes name, date and place. | |||
*The [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/home2.asp?an=&ap= Sussex Record Society] has published four volumes of indexes to Sussex wills, and these can be viewed on their [http://sussexrecordsociety.org/bwills1.asp?an=&ap= website]. They are arranged by parish then by surname. | |||
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp?WT.hp=Wills Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384-1858)]. | |||
Did you find a reference to a probate record? | |||
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below. | |||
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below. | |||
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ==== | |||
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. | |||
Determine ''where'' your ancestor died. It is easier to find a probate record if you know whether the place where your ancestor lived or died is a [[P genealogical glossary terms|parish]]. To learn whether it is a parish, look it up in a gazetteer. Here is a link to the 1872 ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales'' online: | |||
*[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain] | |||
The gazetteer will either tell you: | |||
*A place is a parish, or | |||
*What parish it is a part of, or | |||
*What place it is near. | |||
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish. | |||
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''. | |||
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish ==== | |||
Once you have identified the parish where your ancestor lived or died, learn which courts had jurisdiction over it then search indexes for those courts. Every town and parish in Buckinghamshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Click on a link below for the letter the parish begins with. | |||
Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Most of Buckinghamshire was under the primary jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham|Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]], hence the majority of genealogical searches will be in the records of that court and its superior (or secondary) courts. Click on the court name link above to learn about the records. | <br>Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Most of Buckinghamshire was under the primary jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham|Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]], hence the majority of genealogical searches will be in the records of that court and its superior (or secondary) courts. Click on the court name link above to learn about the records. | ||
For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes that were ''exceptions'' to the above, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click [[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions|'''here''']]. The list of courts is also listed below in the '''Buckinghamshire Probate Courts.''' | For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes that were ''exceptions'' to the above, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click [[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions|'''here''']]. The list of courts is also listed below in the '''Buckinghamshire Probate Courts.''' | ||
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*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln (Episcopal Consistory)]] | *[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln (Episcopal Consistory)]] | ||
*[[Court of the Bishop of London]] (Episcopal Consistory) | *[[Court of the Bishop of London]] (Episcopal Consistory) | ||
*[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Oxford|Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford (Episcopal Consistory)]] | *[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Oxford|Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford (Episcopal Consistory)]] | ||
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]] | *[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]] | ||
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]] | *[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]] | ||
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*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Provost of Eton]] | *[[Court of the Peculiar of the Provost of Eton]] | ||
In addition, as the highest court in the country, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England. To learn more, click on the court name link. | In addition, as the highest court in the country, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England. To learn more, click on the court name link. | ||
=== Appeals Courts === | === Appeals Courts === | ||
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The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] could also serve as an appeals court. | The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] could also serve as an appeals court. | ||
If you do not find a probate record in the primary or secondary courts, try the Appeals Courts. | If you do not find a probate record in the primary or secondary courts, try the Appeals Courts. | ||
== Probate Indexes == | == Probate Indexes == | ||
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Between 1483-1858, the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]] proved over 35,000 wills of ordinary people of Buckinghamshire. The [http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/sites/bcc/archives/Centre_for_Buckinghamshire_Studies.page Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies] has an index to the records in its collection. The index includes wills and some administrations of people who may have died without leaving a will (administrations not complete).<br> | Between 1483-1858, the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]] proved over 35,000 wills of ordinary people of Buckinghamshire. The [http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/sites/bcc/archives/Centre_for_Buckinghamshire_Studies.page Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies] has an index to the records in its collection. The index includes wills and some administrations of people who may have died without leaving a will (administrations not complete).<br> | ||
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== Estate Duty Records<br> == | == Estate Duty Records<br> == | ||
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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. Between 1813-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[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. Between 1813-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br> | ||
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== Probates After 1857 == | == Probates After 1857 == | ||