Staffordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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{{Staffordshire-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]] For an explanation  of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
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| link2=[[Staffordshire, England Genealogy|Staffordshire]]
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| link5=[[Staffordshire_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
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== Getting Started ==
== Staffordshire Probate Courts ==


''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 Staffordshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==


=== 1858 to the Present ===
== Court Jurisdictions by Parish ==


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, every town and parish in Staffordshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. For an authoritative treatise on each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, Wills and Their Whereabouts; also available at the Family History Library, FHL book call [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=413992&disp=Wills+and+their+whereabouts%20%20&columns=*,0,0 #942 S2wa]. Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above [soon to be constructed]. When looking for the will of an ancester, you should search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above.  


==== Online Records ====
Here is a list of Staffordshire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  For other parishes, click on a letter link:  [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B through G|B-G]], [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H through L|H-L]], [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M through S|M-S]], [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]].


* '''1858-1957''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/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
<br>
* '''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904 England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry($); index
* '''1858-2019''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019] at Findmypast($); index


=== Before 1858  ===
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
 
|-
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Staffordshire, follow these steps:
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
 
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
 
|-
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire.
| Abbots Bromley
 
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)  
Start with:
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
*'''1518-1858''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62295/ Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, England, Indexes of Wills and Probate, 1518-1858] at Ancestry — index ($)
| Adbaston
*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} at FamilySearch — [[England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; indexes & images; ''Also at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/staffordshire-dioceses-of-lichfield-and-coventry-wills-and-probate-1521-1860 Findmypast], ($)'' <br>
| Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield  
 
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Also check:
|-
 
| Acton Trussel
*An index for 1630-1780 for Staffordshire covering 23000 plus probate documents can be found at [https://www.staffsnameindexes.org.uk/default.aspx?Index=C Will and administrations]
| Peculiar Court of Whittington and Baswich
*A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publication by the British Record Society in 1892,[http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=4zYEAAAAIAAJ ''Calendars of wills administrations in the consistory court of the bishop of Lichfield'']''  ''This single index consolidates most Staffordshire wills of the various probate court jurisdictions from 1514-1652 for the Diocese of Lichfield and to 1790 for Staffordshire smaller peculiar courts.
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
*The Manor of Sedgley has online indexes listed under the Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgley below.
|-
*[http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes Index of Wills at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies (downloadable PDF file)]
| Aldridge
 
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
==== Printed Indexes  ====
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
Lichfield wills and administrations, 1516-1652&nbsp;: also "peculiars" at Lichfield, Birmingham and Derby, 1529-1652; 1675-1790; 1753-1790, found in Index Library(see above for online copy of book) volume 7.&nbsp; FS Library British book 942 B4b vol. 7.
| Alrewas
 
| Peculiar Court of Alrewas and Weeford
Wills in the Consistory Court of Lichfield&nbsp;: 1650-1700 editor Cliff Webb found in&nbsp;Index Library vol. 125. FS Library British book 942 B4b vol. 125.
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
|-
The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>
| Alstonefield
 
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)  
==== Probate Calendars  ====
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court. {{FSC|309060|title-id|disp=}} These are calendars.&nbsp; They cover most of the county of Stafford. <br>
| Alton
 
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
| Armitage
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
| Peculiar Court of Hansacrea and Armitage
 
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
|-
 
| Ashford
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;
| Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield
 
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Determine ''where'' your ancestor died. It is easier to find a probate record if you know&nbsp;the parish where your ancestor lived or died. To learn the parish for the place where your ancestor died, look&nbsp;the place&nbsp;up in a gazetteer (topographical dictionary). Here is a link to the 1872 ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales'' online:&nbsp;&nbsp; [https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ Vision of Britain]
|-
 
| Ashley
The gazetteer will either tell you:
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)  
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*A place is a parish, or if not--  
|-
*What parish it is in
| Aston
 
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
&nbsp;
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
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 by clicking on a link below for the letter the parish begins with.&nbsp; Once&nbsp;you find the parish you want in the list, you can click on the court listed to go to a page that will help you find the records for that court.
 
&nbsp;
 
{| width="306" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 306px; height: 25px"
|-
|-
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] &nbsp;
| Audley
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]] &nbsp;
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C through G|C-G]]
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H through L|H-L]]
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M through S|M-S]]
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]]
|}
|}


<br>
<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, Staffordshire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=1971113801|disp=Staffordshire 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.
 
== Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==
 
The following probate courts&nbsp;had some jurisdiction over the county of Staffordshire prior to 1858; note that most of Staffordshire was covered by&nbsp;its largest court jurisdiction, called--the [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry&nbsp;(Episcopal Consistory)]], but&nbsp;the county also had numerous concurrent smaller&nbsp;jurisdictions called "peculiars"&nbsp;(see the "Staffordshire Court Jurisdictions By Parish" section&nbsp;above to determine the correct court jurisdiction for the parish in which you may be searching for a will):
 
*[[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
*[[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Alrewas and Weeford]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Burton on Trent]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Colwich]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Eccleshall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Gnosall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Hansacre and Armitage]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of High Offley and Flixton]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Longdon]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Pattingham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Penkridge]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Prees or Pipe Minor]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgely]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Tettenhall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Tyrley]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Whittington and Baswich]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Wolverhampton]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
 
<br>  


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> ==
=== Post-1857 Probate Records ===


Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City.&nbsp; Search the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FamilySearch Catalog/frameset_fhlc.asp FamilySearch Catalog] for the title of the court or the court as&nbsp;an author.&nbsp;
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].  


<br>  
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>


[[Category:Staffordshire Probate Records]]
<br>

Revision as of 16:26, 1 April 2009

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

Staffordshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Some Explanatory Notes on the Staffordshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Court Jurisdictions by Parish[edit | edit source]

Before 1858, every town and parish in Staffordshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. For an authoritative treatise on each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, Wills and Their Whereabouts; also available at the Family History Library, FHL book call #942 S2wa. Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above [soon to be constructed]. When looking for the will of an ancester, you should search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above.

Here is a list of Staffordshire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  For other parishes, click on a letter link:  B-G, H-L, M-S, T-Z.


PARISH PRIMARY COURT SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Abbots Bromley Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Adbaston Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Acton Trussel Peculiar Court of Whittington and Baswich 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Aldridge Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alrewas Peculiar Court of Alrewas and Weeford 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Alstonefield Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alton Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Armitage Peculiar Court of Hansacrea and Armitage 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Ashford Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
Ashley Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Audley Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


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.


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

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