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]], [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes C-E|C-E]], [[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]].


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"
|-
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | 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]]
|}


Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Herefordshire. Search these indexes first:
<br>


*[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.
== Indexes to Probate Records ==
*[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]


Did you find a reference to a probate record?
== Probate Indexes Online ==


*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
Before looking for a will, you should search an index.&nbsp;<br>
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====
[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html]
 
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.
 
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:
 
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/ Vision of Britain]
 
The gazetteer will either tell you:  
 
*A place is a parish, or
*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.  
 
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 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:
 
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="372" border="1"
|-
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes A|A]] 
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes B|B]] 
|  [[Herefordshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes C-E|C-E]] 
|  [[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.
Abstracts of Herefordshire Probate Records


==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record ====
[http://homepages.which.net/~eleanor.harris/index4.htm http://homepages.which.net/~eleanor.harris/index4.htm]


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:  
Indexes to the earliest Wills have been created and some published, but, rather surprisingly, the period of time most useful to the ordinary family historian, 1700-1858, has never been indexed - until now! I have created an index to the 42,000 Wills and Administrations and this is a private index that is not available from any other source. It has not yet been published, and will probably not be published for some time<br>[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html]


*{{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>
Herefordshire Wills Collections<br>This page provides details of compilations of Herefordshire Probate Records (Wills), either partial abstracts or indexes, online and in printed collections. The following are listed in reverse order of their creation, or my discovery.<br>
*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 12:54, 22 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-E, F-I, K-L, M-P, R-T, U-Z.


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]

Probate Indexes Online[edit | edit source]

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

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html

Abstracts of Herefordshire Probate Records

http://homepages.which.net/~eleanor.harris/index4.htm

Indexes to the earliest Wills have been created and some published, but, rather surprisingly, the period of time most useful to the ordinary family historian, 1700-1858, has never been indexed - until now! I have created an index to the 42,000 Wills and Administrations and this is a private index that is not available from any other source. It has not yet been published, and will probably not be published for some time
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/HEF/ProbateRecords/about.html

Herefordshire Wills Collections
This page provides details of compilations of Herefordshire Probate Records (Wills), either partial abstracts or indexes, online and in printed collections. The following are listed in reverse order of their creation, or my discovery.

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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