Oxfordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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{{Oxfordshire-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here]].
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| link2=[[Oxfordshire, England Genealogy|Oxfordshire]]
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| link5=[[Oxfordshire_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
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== Getting Started  ==
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
 
|-
''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 Oxfordshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
 
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
=== 1858 to the Present  ===
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
 
|-
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
| Adderbury with Milton
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
==== Online Records ====
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
*'''1858-1957''' {{RecordSearch|2451051|England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957}} at FamilySearch - [[England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
| Adwell
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
=== Before 1858  ===
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Oxfordshire, follow these steps:
| Albury
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Oxfordshire. Search these indexes first:
| Alkerton
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
*[http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/oxfordshire-wills-index-1516-1857?_ga=1.208941586.141134231.1415381737 Oxfordshire Wills Index 1516-1857] at Findmypast (£)
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*[http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/ Oxfordshire Transcribed Wills] by the Oxfordshire Family History Society
|-
 
| Alvescot
Also check:
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/wills-or-administrations-before-1858/%7C Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858)]
|-
 
| Ambrosden
See also indexes on the individual court pages. Did you find a reference to a probate record?
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
|-
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
| Ardley
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
| Ascott-under-Wychwood
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
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:
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
| Asthall
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
The gazetteer will either tell you:
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
*A place is a parish, or
| Aston Rowant
*What parish it is a part of, or
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
*What place it is near.
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.
| Aston, North
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
| Aston, Steeple
 
| Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford
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 Oxfordshire 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.
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
{| style="width: 201px; height: 24px" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="201"
|-
|-
|  [[Oxfordshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A through C|A-C]]
| Attington
|  [[Oxfordshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes D through K|D-K]]
| Search the courts of the surrounding parishes
|  [[Oxfordshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes L through R|L-R]]
|  [[Oxfordshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes S through Z|S-Z]]
|}
|}


<br>
===  ===
 
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record ====
 
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
 
*{{FSC|England, Oxfordshire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=43556980|disp=Oxfordshire England Probate Records}}(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - some images may only be available at a [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.]<br>
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
 
== Oxfordshire Probate Courts  ==
 
Most of&nbsp;Oxfordshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the combined&nbsp;[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Oxford]]. The majority of probate searches will be in the records of this court and its superior courts. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.


*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham|Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]]
=== Post-1857 Probate Records  ===
*[[Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Gloucester]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln|Court of the Bishop of Lincoln]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of Worcester|Court of the Bishop of Worcester]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of Hereford|Court of the Bishop of Hereford]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Banbury|Court of the Peculiar Parish of Banbury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Langford|Court of the Peculiar Parish of Langford]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Dorchester|Court of the Peculiar Parish of Dorchester]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Monks Risborough|Court of the Peculiar Parish of Monks Risborough]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Thame]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]
*[[Court of the Manor of Sibford|Court of the Manor of Sibford]]
*[[Court of the Chancellor of the University of Oxford|Court of the Chancellor of the University of Oxford]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


The [http://www.origins.net/help/helpNWI-oxf.aspx Origins Network] has an index to Oxfordshire Peculiars for 1547-1856.<br>
Beginning in 1858, the government took over the&nbsp;settlement of estates and all&nbsp;wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system.&nbsp; The system consists of 11 district registry offices and&nbsp;18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and&nbsp;the principal registry&nbsp;office located in London.&nbsp; The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service.&nbsp; To learn more, go to the [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm HMCS website].  


[[Category:Oxfordshire Probate Records|Probate]]  
A&nbsp;country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills.&nbsp; The [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=208102&disp=Calendar+of+the+grants+of+probate+and+le%20%20&columns=*,0,0 indexes] for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br>


The Oxfordshire Family&nbsp; Society has [http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/index.html transcribed wills ]online on their website.
[[Category:England|England]]

Revision as of 15:03, 1 April 2009

For an explanation of probate records in England, click here.

PARISH PRIMARY COURT SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Adderbury with Milton Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adwell Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Albury Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alkerton Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alvescot Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ambrosden Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ardley Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ascott-under-Wychwood Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Asthall Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston Rowant Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston, North Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston, Steeple Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and the Archdeaconry of Oxford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Attington Search the courts of the surrounding parishes

[edit | edit source]

Post-1857 Probate Records[edit | edit source]

Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system.  The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London.  The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service.  To learn more, go to the HMCS website.

A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills.  The indexes for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.

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