Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions: Difference between revisions

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''[[England Genealogy|England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Kent, England Genealogy|Kent]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Kent Probate Records]]''.
These are the probate courts that had some jurisdiction over the county of Kent prior to 1858:  


== Getting Started  ==
*Court of the Bishop (Episcopal consistory) of Canterbury (BOC)
*Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury (AOC)
*Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester (BAR)
*Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Deaneries of the Arches, Croydon and Shoreham (ACS)
*Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Cliffe (PRC)
*Court of the Exempt Jurisdiction of Wingham (EJW)
*Court of the Prior and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury (CCC)
*Court of the Bishop of London (BOL)
*Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) (the highest court in the land which had final jurisdiction when necessary, such as in the case of a wealthier person who owned property in more than one area or county, or when a will was appealed.)
*The Court of Arches (COA) was the appeals courts for the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to which disputed cases could be sent from the lower courts in the province of Canterbury.  
*The High Court of Delegates (HCD) was the final appeals court for disputed cases from both the provinces of Canterbury and York.


''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]].  This article is about probate records in Kent.  See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.  
Read more about [[England Probate Records|probate records]].  


=== 1858 to the Present ===
=== Jurisdictions ===


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
Here is the list of Kent parishes beginning with the letter A, with the probate courts that had jurisdiction over each, arranged from the lowest (1st) to the highest using the court's initials listed above.  
=== Before 1858  ===
*Links to Kent places.  Here is the list of Kent places from A to Z  of the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over each.  
[[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]]  [[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]]  [[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]  [[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D|D]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with E|E]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with F and G|F-G]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H|H]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with I through K|I-K]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with L|L]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M and N|M-N]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with O through R|O-R]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with S|S]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through V|T-V]]  [[Kent Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with W through Z|W-Z]]


The courts listed for each place are those that had jurisdiction over probating wills prior to 1858. To use this table, follow these steps. <br>1. Find the place where your ancestor lived in the first column. <br>2. Click on the court name in the second column to learn where to find the records and indexes.<br>3. Click on each name of the court in the third column if the record isn't found in the first court.<br>4. Search last the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]].  
To go to the list for another letter,&nbsp;scroll to the bottom of this page.  


Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Kent follow these steps:
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
|-
! width="15%" style="background:#f0f0f0;" | PARISH
! width="40% "style="background:#f0f0f0;" | PRIMARY COURT
! width="40%" style="background:#f0f0f0;" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Acrise
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury
|
2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)


==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Kent.  Search these indexes first:
4 - Court of Arches
*The [http://www.kfhs.org.uk/ Kent Record Society] has published four volumes of indexes to Kent wills.
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/wills-and-probate.htm Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384-1858)].


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
5 - High Court of Delegates


Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
|-
| Addington
| Pre-1845 - Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester; Post-1844 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
| <u>Pre-1845 </u>
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


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 [http://archive.org/details/imperialgazettee02wils 1872 ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales''] online:
3 - Court of Arches


*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
4 - High Court of Delegates


The gazetteer will either tell you:
<u>Post-1844</u>


*A place is a parish, or
2 - Court of Arches
*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.
3 - High Court of Delegates


Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
|-
| Adisham
| Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)
|
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
3 - Court of Arches


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 Kent 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.
4 - High Court of Delegates
If no will is found, your ancestor may not have left one.


|-
| Aldington
| Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
3 - Court of Arches


[[Category:Kent Probate Records]]
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Alkham
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
4 - Court of Arches
 
5 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Allhallows
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
3 - Court of Arches
 
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Allington
| Pre-1845 - Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester; Post-1844 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
| <u>Pre-1845</u>
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
3 - Court of Arches
 
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
<u>Post-1844</u>
 
2 - Court of Arches
 
3 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Appledore
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
4 - Court of Arches
 
5 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Ash (near Ridley)
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
3 - Court of Arches
 
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Ash (near Sandwich)
| Pre-1547 - Court of the Exempt Jurisdiction of Wingham; Post-1546 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
3 - Court of Arches
 
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Ashford
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
4 - Court of Arches
 
5 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Ashurst
| Pre-1845 - Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester; Post-1844 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
| <u>Pre-1845 </u>
2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
3 - Court of Arches
 
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
<u>Post-1844</u>
 
2 - Court of Arches
 
3 - High Court of Delegates
 
|-
| Aylesford
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
3 - Court of Arches
 
4 - High Court of Delegates
 
|}
 
<br>
 
<br>
 
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="613" border="1"
|-
| '''PARISH'''
| '''1st'''
| '''2nd'''
| '''3rd'''
| '''4th'''
|-
| Acrise
| AOC
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Addington
| Pre-1845 - BAR; Post-1844 - PCC
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Adisham
| BOC
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Aldington
| BOC&nbsp;
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Alkham
| AOC
| BOC
| PCC
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Allhallows
| BAR
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Allington
| Pre-1845 - BAR; Post-1844 - PCC
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Appledore
| AOC
| BOC
| PCC
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Ash (near Ridley)
| BAR
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Ash (near Sandwich)
| Pre-1547 - EJW; Post-1546 -&nbsp;BOC
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Ashford
| AOC
| BOC
| PCC
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Ashurst
| Pre-1845 -&nbsp;BAR; Post-1844 - PCC
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|-
| Aylesford
| BAR
| PCC
| &nbsp;
| COA &amp; HCD
|}
 
Go to parishes beginning with:
 
[[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [[Kent, England Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D|D]]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; E&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; F&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; G&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; H&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; J-K&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; L&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; M&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; N&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; O&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; P&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Q&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; R&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; S&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; T&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; U&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; V&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; X-Z
 
=== Search an Index<br> ===
 
Now that you have identified the courts with jurisdiction over your parish of interest, return to the [[Kent,_England_Probate|list of indexes]]. <br>

Revision as of 10:56, 7 March 2009

These are the probate courts that had some jurisdiction over the county of Kent prior to 1858:

  • Court of the Bishop (Episcopal consistory) of Canterbury (BOC)
  • Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury (AOC)
  • Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester (BAR)
  • Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Deaneries of the Arches, Croydon and Shoreham (ACS)
  • Court of the Peculiar of the Rector of Cliffe (PRC)
  • Court of the Exempt Jurisdiction of Wingham (EJW)
  • Court of the Prior and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury (CCC)
  • Court of the Bishop of London (BOL)
  • Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) (the highest court in the land which had final jurisdiction when necessary, such as in the case of a wealthier person who owned property in more than one area or county, or when a will was appealed.)
  • The Court of Arches (COA) was the appeals courts for the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to which disputed cases could be sent from the lower courts in the province of Canterbury.  
  • The High Court of Delegates (HCD) was the final appeals court for disputed cases from both the provinces of Canterbury and York.

Read more about probate records.

Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]

Here is the list of Kent parishes beginning with the letter A, with the probate courts that had jurisdiction over each, arranged from the lowest (1st) to the highest using the court's initials listed above.

To go to the list for another letter, scroll to the bottom of this page.

PARISH PRIMARY COURT SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Acrise Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury

2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)

3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

4 - Court of Arches

5 - High Court of Delegates

Addington Pre-1845 - Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester; Post-1844 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Pre-1845

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Post-1844

2 - Court of Arches

3 - High Court of Delegates

Adisham Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Aldington Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Alkham Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury 2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)

3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

4 - Court of Arches

5 - High Court of Delegates

Allhallows Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Allington Pre-1845 - Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester; Post-1844 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Pre-1845

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Post-1844

2 - Court of Arches

3 - High Court of Delegates

Appledore Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury 2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)

3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

4 - Court of Arches

5 - High Court of Delegates

Ash (near Ridley) Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Ash (near Sandwich) Pre-1547 - Court of the Exempt Jurisdiction of Wingham; Post-1546 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Ashford Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury 2 - Court of the Bishop of Canterbury (Episcopal Consistory)

3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

4 - Court of Arches

5 - High Court of Delegates

Ashurst Pre-1845 - Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester; Post-1844 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury Pre-1845

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates

Post-1844

2 - Court of Arches

3 - High Court of Delegates

Aylesford Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

3 - Court of Arches

4 - High Court of Delegates



PARISH 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Acrise AOC PCC   COA & HCD
Addington Pre-1845 - BAR; Post-1844 - PCC PCC   COA & HCD
Adisham BOC PCC   COA & HCD
Aldington BOC  PCC   COA & HCD
Alkham AOC BOC PCC COA & HCD
Allhallows BAR PCC   COA & HCD
Allington Pre-1845 - BAR; Post-1844 - PCC PCC   COA & HCD
Appledore AOC BOC PCC COA & HCD
Ash (near Ridley) BAR PCC   COA & HCD
Ash (near Sandwich) Pre-1547 - EJW; Post-1546 - BOC PCC   COA & HCD
Ashford AOC BOC PCC COA & HCD
Ashurst Pre-1845 - BAR; Post-1844 - PCC PCC   COA & HCD
Aylesford BAR PCC   COA & HCD

Go to parishes beginning with:

B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J-K     L     M     N     O     P     Q     R     S     T     U     V     X-Z

Search an Index
[edit | edit source]

Now that you have identified the courts with jurisdiction over your parish of interest, return to the list of indexes.

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