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{{Middlesex-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
For a explanation of England probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].
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| link2=[[Middlesex, England Genealogy|Middlesex]]
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| link5=[[Middlesex_Probate Records|Probate Records]]
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== Getting Started  ==
Return to the main [[Middlesex|Middlesex]] page.


''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 Middlesex. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
== Middlesex Probate Courts  ==


=== 1858 to the Present  ===
Return to the [[Middlesex Probate Records|Middlesex Probate Records]] page. 
 
<br>
 
*[[Consistory Court of London|Court of Husting]]
*[[Archdeaconry Court of London]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of London (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Archdeaconry Court of Middlesex (Middlesex Division)]]
*[[Deanery of the Arches (Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury)]]
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (London Division)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)]]
*[[Deanery of the Arches of London, Croydon, Shoreham (Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury)]]
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
 
<br>Return to the [[Middlesex Probate Records|Middlesex Probate Records]] page.


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.


==== Online Records ====


*'''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
== <br> ==


=== Before 1858 ===
== Probate Indexes ==
==== Online Records ====
 
*'''1504-1829''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61885/ Westminster, London, England, Wills and Probates, 1504-1829] at Ancestry — index & images ($)
The&nbsp;Archdeaconry&nbsp;Court of&nbsp;Middlesex probate records have to some extent been&nbsp;indexed&nbsp;with the following ones:<br>
<br>
 
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Middlesex, follow these steps:
&nbsp;
 
==== Printed and Published Indexes  ====
 
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=299293&disp=Abstracts+of+copy+wills%2C+Commissary+Co%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Abstracts] of copy wills, Commissary Court of London [London division], registered wills, 1750-1857
*Index to testamentary records in the Commissary Court of London (London Division) 1374-1700&nbsp; by Marc Fitch, available at Society of Genealogists, The Guildhall Library, London Metropolitan Archives and Library, The Family History [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=247669&disp=Index+to+testamentary+records+in+the+Com%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Library]  
*A&nbsp;comprehensive will&nbsp;and admon&nbsp;index to most of London's (including Greater L.) probate courts&nbsp;for the years covering&nbsp;1750-1858 for&nbsp;surnames A-F, is&nbsp;Dr David Wright's London Probate Index on CD and is&nbsp;on [http://www.davideastkent.canterhill.co.uk/lp-index.htm sale].&nbsp;He will perform&nbsp;"lookups" in his indexes for you for surnames covering from G-Z at a set fee. <br>
 
==== Original Handwritten Indexes  ====
 
Court probate inventories, 1662-1747 with surnames alpha-arranged


==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
Probate and administration act book, 1667-1675


Online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Middlesex:
Calender of Probate &amp; Administrations acts, vols. 1-16, 1660-1810


*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/265847-indexes-to-the-ancient-testamentary-records-of-westminster-1228-1700?offset=1 ''Indexes to the Ancient Testamentary Records of Westminster''] (1913) by Arthur Meredyth Burke. The extant testamentary records of Westminster indexed in this book consist of the testamentary records of the Peculiar Court, 1504-1700, the Westminster wills and administrations preserved amongst the records of the Consistory Court of London, 1540-1556, and the miscellaneous testamentary records preserved in the Muniment Chamber of Westminster Abbey, 1228-1700.
==== Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library<br> ====


The FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City has the following index on CD-Rom:  
The indexes as listed in the above are also available&nbsp;covering the years 1662-1810&nbsp;at The Family History Library and they are on microfilm&nbsp;and may be circulated&nbsp;to each of its satellite Family History [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp Centers]&nbsp;worldwide.


*{{FSC|1568892|title-id|disp=The London probate index: surnames A-E}}: grants of probate and administration for all courts and peculiars (except the PCC) in London and Middlesex 1750-1858.
== Searching for probates in this court. ==


''Also search indexed abstracts:''
ORIGINAL WILLS


*[http://www.origins.net/help/aboutNWI-LONMDX.aspx London &amp; Middlesex Will Abstracts 1700-1704] at Findmypast.co.uk (£). Includes 2042 abstracts of original wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Middlesex, Archdeaconry Court of London, Commissary Court of London, Consistory Court of London and Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral.
1523-1857


Did you find a reference to a probate record?
REGISTER COPY WILLS


*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
1374-1857 (with gaps)
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION ACT BOOKS


Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
1496-1857 (with gaps)


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:
ADMINISTRATIONS


*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
1670-1857


The gazetteer will either tell you:
INVENTORIES


*A place is a parish, or
1666-1667, 1672-1857 (with gaps)
*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.
DEPOSITION BOOKS


Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
1537-1722


==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
PERSONAL ANSWERS


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 Middlesex 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.
1675-1736


This list does not include London city parishes. For those, go to ''[[London Probate Records|London Probate Records]]''.
EX OFFICIO ASSIGNATION BOOKS


{| width="284" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 284px; height: 27px"
1712-1811
|-
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A-B|A-B]]
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes C-F|C-F]]
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes G-H|G-H]]
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes I-L|I-L]]
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes M-R|M-R]]
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions S Parishes|S]]
|  [[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes T-Z|T-Z]]
|}


<br>
INSTANCE ACT BOOKS


==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
1570-1675


Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
== Strategies, Tips, Other?  ==


*{{FSC|England, Middlesex - Probate records|subject|subject-id=889941666|disp=Middlesex 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>
See the above&nbsp;Indexes or those available through the Family History Library or its&nbsp;many family history centers worldwide for an index to this court.  
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.


== Probate Courts of Middlesex County  ==
<br>To view a list of parishes and their&nbsp;respective probate court jurisdiction, see the "Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" on the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Middlesex_Probate_Records main page] for Middlesex&nbsp;Probate Records.


*[[Court_of_the_Archdeaconry_of_Middlesex_(Middlesex_Division)|Court of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex, Middlesex Division]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral]]&nbsp;
*[[Court of Husting]] <br>
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of London]] <br>
*[[The Court of Arches of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] <br>
*[[Court of the Bishop of London (Episcopal Consistory)]] <br>
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (London Division)]] <br>
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)]] <br>
*[[Court of the Deanery of the Arches of London, Croydon, Shoreham (Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury)]]<br>
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral]] <br>
*[[Royal Peculiar Court of St Katherine's by the Tower]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


=== Some Explanatory Notes on the Middlesex Probate Courts<br> ===
== Historical Background  ==
 
Probate records of Middlesex, incorporating Greater London&nbsp;and the whole of the ancient county of Middlesex commence from as early as 1258 up to&nbsp;1857.&nbsp;There are several Middlesex County probate court jurisdictions, some of which hold extensive&nbsp;probate record coverage for the greater metropolis and there are a few smaller court jurisdictions which only pertain to a small handful of parishes.
 
If you&nbsp;know&nbsp;in which parish your ancestor may have died or lived,&nbsp;go to the "Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" section&nbsp;(below) and search by parish name&nbsp;in order to determine&nbsp;the&nbsp;correct or most likely&nbsp;probate court&nbsp;to search, first.
 
Next, see the above links to each Middlesex probate court jurisdictions in order to obtain further information for researching in the prime probate court&nbsp;for a will.
 
If a search in the most likely&nbsp;probate court jurisidiction proves unsuccessful, then search the next court as&nbsp;listed in ranked order, i.e. "no. 2", and etc.
 
== Starting Your Search in Indexes  ==
 
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.
 
2. Proceed to the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.
 
3. Contact or visit the Westminster City Archives, or hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.
 
4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any family history [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp centers]&nbsp;near you.
 
&nbsp;
 
== Probate Indexes  ==
 
Several of London and Middlesex probate jurisdictions are&nbsp;well-covered with&nbsp;indexes; look in this section in each court jurisdiction to find valuable indexes to London's probate records.
 
==== Online indexes  ====
 
*A comprehensive&nbsp;will and admon index for most all of London and Middlesex's probate jurisdictions is found in Dr. David Wright's will index for 1750-1857 on CDs&nbsp;for [http://www.davideastkent.canterhill.co.uk/lp-index.htm sale]&nbsp;for surnames A-F; enquire with him for lookups for surnames beginning with G-Z at a set fee.
 
==== Printed Indexes  ====
 
Several printed indexes esist for the various courts of Greater London (but not all). Look in this section for these and their locations for accessing same.
 
==== Original Handwritten Indexes  ====
 
Indexes and claendars to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1258-1857. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations).&nbsp;
 
In addition to the calendars, a majority of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are alphabetically arranged for but a few courts; most are only arranged chronologically, making will searches without indexes, fairly complex and challenging at best&nbsp;and are likewise organized on the microfilmed probates for these courts at the Family History Library.&nbsp;
 
==== Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library&lt;br&gt;  ====
 
The Family History Library has many will and admon (Administration) indexes and calendars which&nbsp;are available on microfilm at the Family History Library covering the years as above mentioned 1258-1858 and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex), or go to this Family History Library Catalog page
 
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Middlesex Courts  ==
 
1. No single probate court jurisdiction holds coverage for the whole of London and Middlesex counties 2. The complexity of probate research in this most populous region of England resides in the fact that Greater London's layout is likewise complex, incorporating the whole of Middlesex and London counties, as well--portions of northwest Kent, northeast Surrey, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire. 3. Several courts held concurrent jurisdiction with one another thus requiring searching multiple probate courts. 4. Search or utilize the "Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions of Parishes" section in order to determine in which probate court jurisdiction a parish lay.
 
== Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate&nbsp;Jurisdictions ==
 
Before 1858, every parish was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.&nbsp; For an alphabetical list of Middlesex parishes and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click on the link for the letter that a parish name begins with: [Note: This section is currently 'Under Construction"]
 
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" border="1"
|-
| &nbsp;[[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes A-F|A-F]]
| &nbsp;[[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes G-H|G-H]]
| &nbsp;[[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes I-L|I-L]]
| &nbsp;[[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes M-R|M-R]]
| &nbsp;[[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions S Parishes|S]]
| &nbsp;[[Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions Parishes T-Z|T-Z]]
|}
 
<br><br>


Probate records of Middlesex, incorporating [[Greater London|Greater London]] and the whole of the ancient county of Middlesex commence from as early as 1258 up to 1857. There are several Middlesex County probate court jurisdictions, some of which hold extensive probate record coverage for the greater metropolis and there are a few smaller court jurisdictions which only pertain to a small handful of parishes.
== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==


The complexity of probate research in this most populous region of England resides in the fact that [[Greater London|Greater London's]] layout is likewise complex, incorporating the whole of Middlesex and London counties, as well as portions of northwest [[Kent, England Genealogy|Kent]], northeast [[Surrey, England Genealogy|Surrey]], parts of [[Essex, England Genealogy|Essex]] and [[Hertfordshire, England Genealogy|Hertfordshire]]. Several courts held concurrent jurisdiction with one another thus requiring searching multiple probate courts.  
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 [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm HMCS website].  


{{Middlesex}}
A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills. 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 the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=517092&disp=Record+copy+wills%2C+1858%2D1925%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Principal Registry] and the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=517092&disp=Record+copy+wills%2C+1858%2D1925%20%20&columns=*,0,0 District Registries] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library. <br>


[[Category:Middlesex Probate Records]]
[[Category:England|England]]

Revision as of 16:03, 14 April 2009

For a explanation of England probate records, click here.

Return to the main Middlesex page.

Middlesex Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Return to the Middlesex Probate Records page. 



Return to the Middlesex Probate Records page.



[edit | edit source]

Probate Indexes[edit | edit source]

The Archdeaconry Court of Middlesex probate records have to some extent been indexed with the following ones:

 

Printed and Published Indexes[edit | edit source]

  • Abstracts of copy wills, Commissary Court of London [London division], registered wills, 1750-1857
  • Index to testamentary records in the Commissary Court of London (London Division) 1374-1700  by Marc Fitch, available at Society of Genealogists, The Guildhall Library, London Metropolitan Archives and Library, The Family History Library
  • A comprehensive will and admon index to most of London's (including Greater L.) probate courts for the years covering 1750-1858 for surnames A-F, is Dr David Wright's London Probate Index on CD and is on sale. He will perform "lookups" in his indexes for you for surnames covering from G-Z at a set fee.

Original Handwritten Indexes[edit | edit source]

Court probate inventories, 1662-1747 with surnames alpha-arranged

Probate and administration act book, 1667-1675

Calender of Probate & Administrations acts, vols. 1-16, 1660-1810

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

The indexes as listed in the above are also available covering the years 1662-1810 at The Family History Library and they are on microfilm and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers worldwide.

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

ORIGINAL WILLS

1523-1857

REGISTER COPY WILLS

1374-1857 (with gaps)

PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION ACT BOOKS

1496-1857 (with gaps)

ADMINISTRATIONS

1670-1857

INVENTORIES

1666-1667, 1672-1857 (with gaps)

DEPOSITION BOOKS

1537-1722

PERSONAL ANSWERS

1675-1736

EX OFFICIO ASSIGNATION BOOKS

1712-1811

INSTANCE ACT BOOKS

1570-1675

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

See the above Indexes or those available through the Family History Library or its many family history centers worldwide for an index to this court.


To view a list of parishes and their respective probate court jurisdiction, see the "Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" on the main page for Middlesex Probate Records.

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

Probate records of Middlesex, incorporating Greater London and the whole of the ancient county of Middlesex commence from as early as 1258 up to 1857. There are several Middlesex County probate court jurisdictions, some of which hold extensive probate record coverage for the greater metropolis and there are a few smaller court jurisdictions which only pertain to a small handful of parishes.

If you know in which parish your ancestor may have died or lived, go to the "Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" section (below) and search by parish name in order to determine the correct or most likely probate court to search, first.

Next, see the above links to each Middlesex probate court jurisdictions in order to obtain further information for researching in the prime probate court for a will.

If a search in the most likely probate court jurisidiction proves unsuccessful, then search the next court as listed in ranked order, i.e. "no. 2", and etc.

Starting Your Search in Indexes[edit | edit source]

1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.

2. Proceed to the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.

3. Contact or visit the Westminster City Archives, or hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.

4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any family history centers near you.

 

Probate Indexes[edit | edit source]

Several of London and Middlesex probate jurisdictions are well-covered with indexes; look in this section in each court jurisdiction to find valuable indexes to London's probate records.

Online indexes[edit | edit source]

  • A comprehensive will and admon index for most all of London and Middlesex's probate jurisdictions is found in Dr. David Wright's will index for 1750-1857 on CDs for sale for surnames A-F; enquire with him for lookups for surnames beginning with G-Z at a set fee.

Printed Indexes[edit | edit source]

Several printed indexes esist for the various courts of Greater London (but not all). Look in this section for these and their locations for accessing same.

Original Handwritten Indexes[edit | edit source]

Indexes and claendars to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1258-1857. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations). 

In addition to the calendars, a majority of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are alphabetically arranged for but a few courts; most are only arranged chronologically, making will searches without indexes, fairly complex and challenging at best and are likewise organized on the microfilmed probates for these courts at the Family History Library. 

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

The Family History Library has many will and admon (Administration) indexes and calendars which are available on microfilm at the Family History Library covering the years as above mentioned 1258-1858 and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex), or go to this Family History Library Catalog page

Some Explanatory Notes on the Middlesex Courts[edit | edit source]

1. No single probate court jurisdiction holds coverage for the whole of London and Middlesex counties 2. The complexity of probate research in this most populous region of England resides in the fact that Greater London's layout is likewise complex, incorporating the whole of Middlesex and London counties, as well--portions of northwest Kent, northeast Surrey, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire. 3. Several courts held concurrent jurisdiction with one another thus requiring searching multiple probate courts. 4. Search or utilize the "Middlesex Probate Jurisdictions of Parishes" section in order to determine in which probate court jurisdiction a parish lay.

Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]

Before 1858, every parish was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  For an alphabetical list of Middlesex parishes and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click on the link for the letter that a parish name begins with: [Note: This section is currently 'Under Construction"]

 A-F  G-H  I-L  M-R  S  T-Z



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 the Principal Registry and the District Registries for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.

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