Herefordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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


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


=== 1858 to the Present ===
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Herefordshire Probate Courts  ==


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


==== Online Records ====
Before 1858, every town and parish in Herefordshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary ecclesiastical court and one or more secondary ecclesiastical courts.


*'''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
Here is a list of Herefordshire places beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  Search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on a court name or see the indexes listed below.  
*'''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 ===
For other places, click on a letter link:  [[Herefordshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_B|B]], C, D


Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Herefordshire, follow these steps:
<br>


==== Step 1. Search Indexes ====
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
 
|-
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Herefordshire. Search these indexes first:
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
 
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/index.html Abstracts of Herefordshire Probate Records] and [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html Herefordshire Wills Collections]. These pages provide details of compilations of Herefordshire Probate Records (wills), either partial abstracts or indexes, online and in printed collections.
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
*[https://ldhs.org.uk/archives/ Longtown Historical Society's Archive project] includes probate records for several parishes in southwest Herefordshire that formed part of the Archdeacon of Brecon
|-
*[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]
| Abbey Dore
 
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
Did you find a reference to a probate record?
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
 
|-
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
| Aconbury
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)  
 
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====
|-
 
| Allensmore
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.
| [[Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Dean of Hereford]]
 
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
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:
|-
 
| Almeley
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/ Vision of Britain]
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
 
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
The gazetteer will either tell you:
|-
 
| Amberley
*A place is a parish, or
| [[Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Dean of Hereford]]  
*What parish it is a part of, or
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*What place it is near.
|-
 
| Ashperton
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
 
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
|-
 
| Aston
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish ====
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
 
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
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 Sussex fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. For a list of Herefordshire parishes and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them, click on a letter link:
|-
 
| Aston Ingham
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="372" border="1"
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Avenbury
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Aylton
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
|-
| [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes A|A]] 
| Aymestrey
| [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes B|B]]  
| [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes C-E|C-E]] 
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes F-I|F-I]] 
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes K-L|K-L]] 
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes M-P|M-P]] 
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes R-T|R-T]] 
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes U-Z|U-Z]]
|}
|}


If you do not know the parish in which your ancestor died or held property, search the [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory)]] first.
<br>
 
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record ====
 
Once you have found an index reference to a probate record and identified the court that probated it, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


*{{FSC|England, Herefordshire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=1742843085|disp=Herefordshire 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>
== Indexes to Probate Records ==
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.


== Herefordshire Probate Courts ==
== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==


Most of Herefordshire was under the jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory)]]. 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.  
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 Bishop (Consistory) of the Dean of Hereford]]
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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=authordetails&authorno=301365&name=Great+Britain%2E+Principal+Probate+Registry&columns=*,0,0 records] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br>
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Breconshire]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of St. David's (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Moreton Magna or Moreton on Lugg]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Upper Bullinghope or Upper Bullingham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Little Hereford & Ashford Carbonell]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


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

Revision as of 11:10, 21 April 2009

England > Herefordshire

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

Herefordshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

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

Court Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]

Before 1858, every town and parish in Herefordshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary ecclesiastical court and one or more secondary ecclesiastical courts.

Here is a list of Herefordshire places beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  Search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on a court name or see the indexes listed below.  

For other places, click on a letter link:  B, C, D


PARISH PRIMARY COURT SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Abbey Dore Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aconbury Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Allensmore Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Dean of Hereford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Almeley Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Amberley Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Dean of Hereford 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ashperton Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston Ingham Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Avenbury Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aylton Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aymestrey Court of the Bishop of Hereford (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


Indexes to Probate Records[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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