Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester: Difference between revisions

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Return to the [[Essex Probate Records|Essex Probate Records]] page.
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[Return to the [[Essex Probate Records|Essex Probate Records]] page.]


== Step By Step  ==
== Probate Indexes - General ==


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 "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.<br>3. Contact or visit the Essex County Record Office or, 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 FamilySearch Library or, one of its 4,500 satellite FamilySearch centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search the original wills and admons available online at a local [https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/about FamilySearch center or affiliate library] near you.<br>
=== &nbsp;History and Background  ===


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>


== Probate Indexes  ==
<br>


The Archdeaconry Court of Colchester probate records are well-covered with the following indexes:<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.


==== Online indexes ====
=== Online Indexes  ===


A general will index for Essex County is available [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>
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.  


*'''1505-1916''' - ''Essex Wills Beneficiaries Index, 1505-1916,'' online at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/essex-wills-beneficiaries-index-1505-1916 findmypast]. Includes Bishop of London's Commissary Court (Essex & Hertfordshire), Archdeaconry Court of Colchester, Archdeaconry Court of Essex, Archdeaconry Court of Middlesex (Essex & Hertfordshire), Peculiar Court of Deanery of Bocking, Peculiar Court of Good Easter, Peculiar Court of the Sokens, Peculiar Court of Writtle with Roxwell.
=== Printed Indexes  ===


==== Printed and Published 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 eight Essex County probate courts including this court.  
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].'''
 
== Searching for probates in this court  ==
 
CALENDARS (first-letter-of-surname index) of Wills and Administration Acts are divided in to four calendar books:&nbsp;<br>


*Emmison, F. G., ed. ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford''. (FS Library book {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=942 B4b}} vols. 78, 79 &amp; 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740; also on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)
*Calendar&nbsp; Vol. 1:&nbsp; 1495-1585
*Calendar&nbsp; Vol. 2:&nbsp; 1585-1621
*Calendar&nbsp; Vol. 3:&nbsp; 1621-1725
*Calendar&nbsp; Vol. 4:&nbsp; 1670-1726
*Calendar&nbsp; Vol. 5:&nbsp; 1688-1783
*Calendar&nbsp; Vol. 6:&nbsp; 1784-1858


Original Handwritten Indexes:  
<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.


{{FSC|277961|title-id|disp=Calendars}} to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1400-1858. Calendars are a kind of index to the day to day probate court procedures in which wills and admons (administrations) are processed. <br>  
<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 FamilySearch Library. Visit the Essex County [https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/ Archives] or the FamilySearch Catalog under Essex, England to determine the film numbers of the following records to search:
REGISTERED WILLS&nbsp;Registered Wills&nbsp;with alpha indexes preceding the wills date&nbsp;from 1500-1585&lt;br&gt;


Microfilmed Indexes at the FamilySearch Library:
Registered Wills (un-indexed) 1667-1858


Original (Unregistered) Wills and Registered Wills as well as the extant indexes for this court are available on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library and may be circulated to each of its satellite FamilySearch Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex). You can  visit the Essex County Archives or go to the FamilySearch Catalog's "Place Search" and type in "Essex", [England]; then click on "Probate Records - Indexes" to determine availability of probate indexes, or {{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=click}} here to go directly to the FamilySearch Catalog entry showing these courts' {{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=records}}. <br>Some indexes area available as follows:
ORIGINAL WILLS&nbsp;  


*{{FSC|700013|title-id|disp=Abstracts of copy wills}} 1725-1858
Original Wills and Administration (Admons) -&nbsp;unindexed - 1583-1652; 1660-1858 &lt;br&gt;  
*Emmison, F.G. {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=Wills of Chelmsford}} 1400-1858  
*Index to Wills 1500-1858 {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=published in three volumes}}; or on {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=microfilm}} or {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=microfiche}}


Visit the Essex County {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=Archives}} or the FamilySearch Library to access these indexes. To obtain the film numbers to these records for viewing them, see this {{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=catalog}} entry under Essex, England.
ADMINISTRATIONS (at Essex County Record [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp Office])


== Records  ==
1678-1857


<span style="display: none;" id="1264004378036S"> </span>Probate records of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex were once held in the Chelmsford Cathedral Registry. After the setup of civil courts by act of Parliament in 1858, they were removed to Somerset House, London in 1858. In 1958, almost all of Essex wills were transferred back to Chelmsford to the County Hall, where they reside today.
ACT BOOKS&nbsp;  


These records date from 1495 to 1857 and cover 104 parishes in Essex.
Probate and Admininstration Acts&nbsp;1663-1858&nbsp;


==== Archives Location  ====
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].


Essex Record Office<br>Archives &amp; Museums<br>Wharf Road <br>Chelmsford CM12 6YT<br>Telephone (01245) 244644<br>Email: [mailto:ero.enquiry@essexcc.gov.uk ero.enquiry@essexcc.gov.uk]  
== Indexes ==


[https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/ Website]: Essex County Record Office
The Archdeaconry Court of Essex probate records&nbsp;are well-covered with the following indexes:&nbsp;&nbsp;


==== Archive Records  ====


Add information about the manuscript, printed and digital records in this location.


Calendars (first-letter-of-surname index) of Wills and Administration Acts are divided into four calendar books: <br>
=== Printed Indexes  ===


*Calendars 1495-1858
The Essex County Record Office compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from eight Essex County probate courts including this court.


*Registered Wills Registered Wills with alpha indexes preceding the wills date from 1500-1858
*Emmison, F. G., ed.; ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford''. (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, 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740; also on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)


*Original Wills and Administration (Admons) - unindexed - 1583-1652; 1660-1858
==== Original Handwritten Indexes  ====


*Administrations (at Essex County Record [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp Office]) 1678-1857
Indexes to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist as follows:  


*Act Books
*Registered Wills:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1496-1585; 1667-1726


Probate and Admininstration Acts 1663-1858 
*Un-Registered Wills:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1585-1725


==== FamilySearch Library Records  ====
*Wills &amp; Admininstrations:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1688-1858


For determining the FamilySearch Library's microfilmed collection of the Archdeaconry Court of Colchester, see the FamilySearch Catalog entry for this {{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=court}}.<br>
*Calendars (first-letter of&nbsp;surname index)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1495-1858


*{{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=Calendar of registered &amp; Un-Registered Wills &amp; Administrations}} (Admons) 1495-1858
<br>


*{{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=Registered Wills}} 1500-1858
In addition to the calendars,&nbsp;some 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.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=247479&disp=Wills+at+Chelmsford+%28Essex+and+East+He%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Archives] or the Family History Library [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 Catalog] under Essex, England to determine availability of records.


*{{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=Original Wills and Administration}} (Admons) - unindexed - 1583-1652; 1660-1667
==== Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library  ====


*{{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=Act Books}}  1663-1857
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 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].


*{{FSC|277892|title-id|disp=Abstracts of wills}} 1558-1603 edited by F.G. Emmison. in FS Library book call no. 942.67 P2e vols. 1-12
== Strategies, Tips, Other?  ==


[[Category:Essex Probate Records]] [[Category:Essex Probate Records]]
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 admininstrations&nbsp;(or Admons)&nbsp; from 1688-1858.<br>

Revision as of 11:16, 25 March 2009


[Return to the Essex Probate Records page.]

Probate Indexes - General[edit | edit source]

 History and Background[edit | edit source]

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 Diocese of London in 1858 and held there until 1958 when they were transferred back to the Chelmsford County Hall, where they reside today.


Before 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.

Online Indexes[edit | edit source]

A general will index for Essex County is available online.  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[edit | edit source]

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

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

  • Emmison, F. G., ed.  [Index to] Wills at Chelmsford.  London: s.n., 1961, by the British Record Society.  (FHL book 942 B4b vols. 78, 79 & 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740, and on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)

Other handwritten indexes are found listed below under the "Indexes" section. Click on the court name links on the Essex County Probate home page.

Searching for probates in this court[edit | edit source]

CALENDARS (first-letter-of-surname index) of Wills and Administration Acts are divided in to four calendar books: 

  • Calendar  Vol. 1:  1495-1585
  • Calendar  Vol. 2:  1585-1621
  • Calendar  Vol. 3:  1621-1725
  • Calendar  Vol. 4:  1670-1726
  • Calendar  Vol. 5:  1688-1783
  • Calendar  Vol. 6:  1784-1858


In addition to the general index above, many of the earlier or pre-1585 filmed volumes also contain a separate index to the wills and administrations. For an index to the post-1585 period, search the online  county-wide index at the Essex County Record Office website.


REGISTERED WILLS Registered Wills with alpha indexes preceding the wills date from 1500-1585<br>

Registered Wills (un-indexed) 1667-1858

ORIGINAL WILLS 

Original Wills and Administration (Admons) - unindexed - 1583-1652; 1660-1858 <br>

ADMINISTRATIONS (at Essex County Record Office)

1678-1857

ACT BOOKS 

Probate and Admininstration Acts 1663-1858 

For determining the Family History Library's microfilmed collection of the Archdeaconry Court of Colchester, see the Family History Library Catalog entry for this court.

Indexes[edit | edit source]

The Archdeaconry Court of Essex probate records are well-covered with the following indexes:  


Printed Indexes[edit | edit source]

The Essex County Record Office compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from eight Essex County probate courts including this court.

  • Emmison, F. G., ed.; [Index to] Wills at Chelmsford. (FHL book 942 B4b vols. 78, 79, 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740; also on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)

Original Handwritten Indexes[edit | edit source]

Indexes to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist as follows:

  • Registered Wills:                                    1496-1585; 1667-1726
  • Un-Registered Wills:                               1585-1725
  • Wills & Admininstrations:                        1688-1858
  • Calendars (first-letter of surname index)    1495-1858


In addition to the calendars, some 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 Archives or the Family History Library Catalog under Essex, England to determine availability of records.

Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library[edit | edit source]

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 Family History Library Catalog entry for this court.

Strategies, Tips, Other?[edit | edit source]

Administrations for the years 1678 to 1857 are available at the Essex County Record Office, Chelmsford, U.K. The Family History Library has on microfilm, many of the admininstrations (or Admons)  from 1688-1858.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)

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