Devon Probate Records

England > Devon

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

Devonshire Probate Courts

• Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstable
• Court of the Archdeaconry of Cornwall
• Court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter
• Court of the Archdeaconry of Totnes

Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

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, people who died overseas but owned property in Britain, and Naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archbishop's court.

Appeals Courts

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

• Court of Arches
• High Court of Delegates

Court Jurisdictions

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

To see a list of places in Devonshire and courts that had pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over them, click on a link for the letter a place name begins with: A, B, C, D-E, F-H, I-K, L-M, N-O, P-R, S, T-V, W-Z.

Probate Indexes Online

Before looking for a will, you should search an index. 

http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/index.php pre-1858

CHARDSTOCK and UFFCULME parishes covered and a few other wills from other parishes.

The first stage of our on-line catalogue project provides access to a detailed catalogue of wills, 1540-1858, held in the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives (also known as Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office). The catalogue also contains (for about 25% of the wills) digital images of probate records.

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/democracycommunities/neighbourhoods-villages/record_office/family_history_3/wills_records.htm

This website provides information about Devon wills.

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/democracycommunities/people/family_

history/family_history_3/wills_records/locating_wills_and_admin.htm

This website provides information about Devon wills.

http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/DEV/DevonWills/index.html

Devon Names in the Calendars of the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1383-1700