Northumberland Probate Records: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:30, 3 April 2009

Northumberland Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

The following courts had some probate jurisdiction over the towns and parishes of Northumberland before 1858:

In addition, the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury had jurisdiction over the whole of England. Wealthier individuals, people who owned property in more than one county or lower court's jurisdiction, and Naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archbishop's court.

Appeals Courts[edit | edit source]

Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could go to these high appeals courts:

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

Court Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]

Before 1858, every town and parish in Northumberland was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. When looking for the will of an ancestor, search the courts in the order given. Search indexes first. For indexes, click on the court name links above.

Here is a list of Northumberland towns and parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that jurisdiction over them. For other places, click on a letter link: B-C, D-J, K-R, S-Z

PARISH	PRIMARY COURT	SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Allen, West	Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire	2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
Allendale	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Allendale St Peter	Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire	2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
Alnham	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Alnmouth	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Alnwick	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Alnwick St Paul	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Alwinton with Holystone	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Ancroft	Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)	2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York

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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-{{Northumberland-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+Return to the [[Northumberland|Northumberland]] Page.
-| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
-| link2=[[Northumberland, England Genealogy|Northumberland]]
-| link3=
-| link4=
-| link5=[[Northumberland_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
-}}
-== Getting Started  ==
+== Northumberland Probate Courts  ==
+The following courts had some probate jurisdiction over the towns and parishes of Northumberland before 1858:&nbsp;
+*[[Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Durham|Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+*[[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
+*[[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire]]
+*[[Court of the Predendary of Thockrington]]
-''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 Northumberland. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
+In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England. Wealthier individuals, people who owned property in more than one county or lower court's jurisdiction, and Naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archbishop's court.
-=== 1858 to the Present  ===
+=== Appeals Courts  ===
-Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
+Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could go to these high appeals courts:
-==== Online Records ====
+*[[Court of Arches]]
+*[[High Court of Delegates]]
-*'''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
+== Some Explanatory Notes on the Northumberland Probate Courts  ==
-*'''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904/ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry
-*'''1858-2019''' [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019] at Findmypast
-=== Before 1858  ===
+== Court Jurisdictions  ==
-Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Northumberland, follow these steps:
+Before 1858, every town and parish in Northumberland was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. When looking for the will of an ancestor, search the courts in the order given. Search indexes first. For indexes, click on the court name links above.
-==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
+Here is a list of Northumberland towns and parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that jurisdiction over them. For other places, click on a letter link:&nbsp; [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with B and C|B-C]], [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with D through J|D-J]], [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with K through R|K-R]], [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with S through Z|S-Z]]
-Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Northumberland. Search these indexes first:
+<br>
-*[https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/york-peculiars-probate-index-1383-1883 York Peculiars Probate Index] covers over 25,000 wills proved in the fifty four peculiar courts of the Province of York in the five-hundred year period from 1383 to 1883.
+{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
-*[https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/prerogative-and-exchequer-courts-of-york-probate-index-1688-1858 Prerogative &amp; Exchequer Courts of York Probate Index 1842-1858] [http://www.originsnetwork.com/help/popup-aboutbo-ypec.htm <br>]
+|-
-*An index covering [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/york-medieval-probate-index-1267-1500 1267 to 1500] includes 10,000 wills proved in the Prerogative &amp; Exchequer Courts of York.
+! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
-*The [https://familyrecords.awh.durham.ac.uk/nei/ Durham and Northumberland probate records, 1527-1857.] The digital images will be searchable by name, place, occupation or date.
+! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
-**[https://familyrecords.awh.durham.ac.uk/nei/data/advanced.php North East Inheritance database (pre-1858 Durham Probate Records).] To learn more about the project and search the index.
+! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
+|-
+| Allen, West
+| [[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire]]
+| 2 - [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
-Did you find a reference to a probate record?
+- [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
-*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
-==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
+|-
+| Allendale
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-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:
+|-
+| Allendale St Peter
+| [[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York]] in Hexham and Hexhamshire
+| 2 - [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
-*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/ Vision of Britain]
+- [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
-The gazetteer will either tell you:
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-*A place is a parish, or
+|-
-*What parish it is a part of, or
+| Alnham
-*What place it is near.
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
+|-
+| Alnmouth
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-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 Northumberland 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.
+|-
+| Alnwick
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-To see a list of Northumberland places and the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that jurisdiction over them, click on a letter link:
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-[[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes A|A]],  [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with B and C|B-C]],  [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with D through J|D-J]],  [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with K through R|K-R]],  [[Northumberland Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with S through Z|S-Z]]<br>
+|-
+| Alnwick St Paul
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
+|-
+| Alwinton with Holystone
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-*{{FSC|England, Northumberland - Probate records|subject|subject-id=505228740|disp=Northumberland 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>
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
-== Northumberland Probate Courts  ==
+|-
+| Ancroft
+| [[Court of the Bishop of Durham]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+| 2 - [[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
+- [[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
+- [[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
+|}
+<br>
-The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the towns and parishes of Northumberland before 1858:
+=== Post-1857 Probate Records  ===
-*[[Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)]]
+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].
-*[[Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York]]
-*[[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Thockrington]]
-*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
-{{Template:Pros-NEE}}<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:Northumberland Probate Records]]
+[[Category:England|England]]