Warwickshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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{{Warwickshire-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
| link2=[[Warwickshire, England Genealogy|Warwickshire]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Warwickshire_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
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== Getting Started ==
== Warwickshire Probate Courts ==


''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 Warwickshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
== Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==


=== 1858 to the Present ===
== Court Jurisdictions ==


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
Before 1858, every town and parish in Warwickshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary court.  When looking for the will of an ancestor in Warwickshire, search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the link for a court name above.  


==== Online Records ====
Here is a list of Warwickshire towns and parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  For other places, click on a letter link:  [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with B and C|B-C]], [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with D through L|D-L]], [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with M through S|M-S]], [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]].


*'''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  ===
{| 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
|-
| Alcester
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Allesley
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Warwickshire, follow these steps:
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alne, Great
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alveston
| Pre-1851 -  [[Court of the Peculiar of Hampton Lucy]];
Post-1850 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]]


==== Step 1. Search Indexes ====
| Pre-1851
2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


*Warwick persons are included in the&nbsp;[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury] which was the highest court in England, and the Bishop of Worcester Consistory Court, for which indexes are online for [http://books.google.com/books?id=7DUEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=related:LCCN01004246&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1%7Conline#v=onepage&q=&f=false 1451-1652].
3 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]  


Also check:
Post-185


*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} — [[England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; indexes & images; ''Also at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/staffordshire-dioceses-of-lichfield-and-coventry-wills-and-probate-1521-1860 Findmypast], ($)''<br>
2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


Did you find a reference to a probate record?
|-
| Ansley
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
|-
| Ansty
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Arley
|  [[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]] (Cathedral)
| 2 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;  
|-
| Arrow
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Ashow
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);  
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


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:
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Astley
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Aston Cantlow
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Aston juxta Birmingham
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


The gazetteer will either tell you:
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Atherstone
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


*A place is a parish, or
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*What parish it is a part of, or
|-
*What place it is near.
| Atherstone on Stour
|  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Attleborough
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.
| 2 -  [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Austrey
| Pre-1837 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 -  [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
 
==== 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 Warwickshire 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.
 
{| width="250" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D through L|D-L]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M through P|M-P]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Q through S|Q-S]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]]
|}
|}
<br>
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
*{{FSC|England, Warwickshire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=62281204|disp=Warwickshire 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>
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
== Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==
Most of Warwickshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of either the [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)]] or the [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]].&nbsp; The majority of probate searches will be in the records of these two courts and their superior courts.&nbsp; However, the following smaller courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.
*[[Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Baddesley-Clinton]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Barston]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Bishop's Ichington, Chadshunt and Gaydon]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Prebendal of Hampton-Lucy|Peculiar Court of the Prebendal of Hampton-Lucy]] with Alveston Parish and its chapelry, Charlcote, and Wasperton Parish
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Knowle]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Merevale]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Packwood]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Tachbrook]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Temple Balsall]]; also see Baddesley-Clinton
*[[Peculiar Court of the Prebend of Ufton]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Stratford-upon-Avon]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


<br>
<br>


== Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts ==
== Post-1857 Probate Records ==
 
*From 1837, the whole of the Warwickshire's parishes came under the probate court jurisdiction of the Bishop of Worcester
*In pre-1837 the north, east and northwestern Warwickshire parishes came under the authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lichfield.
*The rest of the of Warwickshire (south-west portion) in pre-1837 came under the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester.


Here's the [[Warwickshire, England Parishes|List of Warwickshire Parishes]] which in pre-1837, came under the court jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory).<br>
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].  


<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:Warwickshire Probate Records|Probate]]
[[Category:England|England]]

Revision as of 07:17, 29 April 2009

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

Warwickshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Court Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]

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

Here is a list of Warwickshire towns and parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  For other places, click on a letter link:  B-C, D-L, M-S, T-Z.


PARISH PRIMARY COURT SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
Alcester Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Allesley Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alne, Great Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Alveston Pre-1851 - Court of the Peculiar of Hampton Lucy;

Post-1850 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester

Pre-1851

2 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Post-185

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Ansley Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ansty Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Arley Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield (Cathedral) 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)

3 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Arrow Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Ashow Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Astley Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston Cantlow Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Aston juxta Birmingham Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Atherstone Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Atherstone on Stour Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Attleborough Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Austrey Pre-1837 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory);

Post-1836 - Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)

2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


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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