Warwickshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Warwickshire]]  
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
 
| link2=[[Warwickshire, England Genealogy|Warwickshire]]
For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Warwickshire_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
}}


== Getting Started  ==
== Getting Started  ==


''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.  
Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her heirs. 
 
In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions:
 
#When did your ancestor die?
#Where did your ancestor live or own property?
 
A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiastical courts of the Church of England and given to the civil government. 
 
*If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiastical court and it is important to know where he/she lived, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction. 
*If you know where your ancestor lived before 1858, you should go to the '''Court Jurisdictions''' section below to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence. 
*Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system.  For more information, scroll to the '''Post-1857 Probate Records''' section at the bottom of the page.
 
Once you have answered the two questions and determined the courts, look for indexes. Indexes will be found on the individual court pages (when you click on a court name) or in the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.<br><br>
 
== Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==
 
[[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)]]
 
[[Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)]]


=== 1858 to the Present  ===
[[Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)]]


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]  


==== Online Records ====
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Baddesley-Clinton]]


*'''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
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Barston]]  


=== Before 1858  ===
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Bishop's Ichington, Chadshunt and Gaydon]]


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:
[[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


==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Knowle]]


*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].
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Merevale]]  


Also check:
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Packwood]]


*'''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>
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Tachbrook]]  


Did you find a reference to a probate record?
[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Temple Balsall]]; also see Baddesley-Clinton


*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
[[Peculiar Court of the Prebend of Ufton]]
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
[[Court of the Peculiar of Stratford-upon-Avon]]


Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;
<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1248385810697_821" />


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:
== Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Court Jurisdiction Changes&nbsp;  ==


*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
*From 1837, the whole of the Warwickshire's parishes came under the probate court jurisdiction of the Bishop of Worcester
*In pre-1837 only north, east and northwestern Warwickshire parishes&nbsp;came under the&nbsp;authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lichfield.  
*The rest of the&nbsp;of Warwickshire&nbsp;(south-west portion) in pre-1837 came under the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester.


The gazetteer will either tell you:
&nbsp;


*A place is a parish, or
Here's the [[List of Warwickshire Parishes|'''List of Warwickshire Parishes''']] which in pre-1837, came under&nbsp;the court jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory).  
*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.
<br>


Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
== Court Jurisdictions  ==


==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
Before 1858, every town and parish in Warwickshire came under the&nbsp;jurisdiction of a&nbsp;probate court, and&nbsp;under&nbsp; concurrent&nbsp;&nbsp;jurisdiction of&nbsp;one or more additional&nbsp;courts.&nbsp;When looking for the will of an ancestor in Warwickshire, search the courts in the order given in the Parishes listings below (click on first letter of the parish).&nbsp;Be certain to always search indexes first, when available.&nbsp; For indexes to probates, click on the link for a probate court named above.


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.
Here is a list of Warwickshire towns and parishes by beginning&nbsp;letter, i. e.&nbsp;"A" and the names of pre-1858 probate courts that held&nbsp;jurisdiction over them.&nbsp; To find the probate court&nbsp;records to search,&nbsp;first&nbsp;locate or learn&nbsp;the '''parish''' name in which the ancestor died or resided in just prior to death. Then click on the beginning letter of the parish link below to locate the appropriate probate court and its records accessibility:&nbsp;


{| width="250" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="250" border="1"
|-
|-
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]]  
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with A|A]],
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]]  
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with B|B]],
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]  
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with C|C]],
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D through L|D-L]]  
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places 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 Places 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 Places Beginning with Q through S|Q-S]],
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]].
|}
|}


<br>  
== Estate Duty Records<br> ==
 
Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere. Between 1813-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br>
 
== Probate Indexes  ==
 
Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=309060&disp=Registered+wills+and+original+wills%2C+a%20%20&columns=*,0,0] These are calendars&nbsp;&nbsp; This diocese covers the northern and eastern parts of county Warwick.
 
A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield exists online, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publication by the British Record Society in 1892,''Calendars of wills administrations in the Consistory court of the bishop of Lichfield''. This single index consolidates most Staffordshire wills of the various probate court jurisdictions from 1514-1652 for the Diocese of Lichfield and to 1790 for Warwickshire's&nbsp;smaller [http://books.google.com/books?id=4zYEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false peculiar courts].


==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
The Episcopal Consistory Court of The Bishop of Worcester Covers the southwestern third of this county.


Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
Episcopal Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester Calendar of wills and administrations, 1661-1858 is a typscript and is available at The&nbsp;Family History Library, (FHL) &nbsp;book call no.&nbsp;942.47 P2e vols 1-4. Contents&nbsp;: v. 1. 1661-1699 -- v. 2. 1700-1749 -- v. 3. 1750-1799 -- v. 4. 1800-1858; or, it is available via&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=255647&disp=Episcopal+Consistory+Court+of+the+Bishop++ microfilm] at&nbsp;its 4,600 Family History Centers worldwide.&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=255647&disp=Episcopal+Consistory+Court+of+the+Bishop%20%20&columns=*,0,0]


*{{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>
Worcestershire wills index, 1858-1928<br>"The index is arranged in alphabetical order of surname followed by the forename. Then the date of probate is cited, thus leading one to the register concerned, together with the relevant page number. It will be noted that there is some slight variation in style of the date of probate quoted. This is because this index was compiled from the existing indexes in each register and the amount of detail in each varied slightly, particularly in the first few volumes." -- from foreword.<br>CD-ROM no. 1671 at The Family History Library&lt;br [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1172760&disp=Worcestershire+wills+index%2C+1858%2D192%20%20&columns=*,0,0]  
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.


== Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==
Calendar of wills and administrations in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Worcester, 1451-1652&nbsp;: also marriage licenses and sequestrations now deposited in the Probate registry at Worcester<br>The Index library (British Record Society)&nbsp;: v. 31, 39 <br>Family History Library Call Numbers<br>942 B4b v. 31 1968 942 B4b v. 39 1968<br>Contents: v. 31. 1451-1600 -- v. 39. 1601-1652. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=234430&disp=Calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+in%20%20&columns=*,0,0]
 
Also available 942.47 S2c [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=250567&disp=A+calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+%20%20&columns=*,0,0]


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.
Family History Library


*[[Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)]]
A calendar of wills and administrations preserved in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester, l45l-(l652) [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=250567&disp=A+calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+%20%20&columns=*,0,0]  
*[[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  ==
Index of Probate from January-March 1660-1 for the Bishop of Worcester Original Wills


*From 1837, the whole of the Warwickshire's parishes came under the probate court jurisdiction of the Bishop of Worcester  
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
*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.
! Name
! Place
! Date
|-
| John Allen
| Wixelsford
| 6 Mar
|-
| William Averill
| Broadway
| 20 Mar
|-
| Thomas Baker
| Juichfieh?
| 28 Feb
|-
| Roger Barnard
| Stratford Upon Avon
| 16 Mar
|-
| William Beaver
| Combrook, Warwickshire
| 8 Mar
|-
| Ferdinand Bentley
| Wick by Pershore
| 27 Feb
|-
| Thomas Bonnar
| Alderminster
| 13 Feb
|-
| Francis Buck
| Oddingley
| 28 Feb
|-
| John Butler
| Swale
| 6 Feb
|-
| William Butler
| Cateshill, Bromsgrove
| 28 Feb
|-
| Robert Caldecote
| Hunington
| 28 Feb
|-
| Thomas Clarke
| City of Worcester
| 21 Feb
|-
| William Climer
| Shenston in Stone
| 23 Feb
|-
| Robert Coldecott or Colicoal
| Hunington
| 28 Feb
|-
| Mathew Collet
| Alderminster or Aldermarston
| 7 Mar
|-
| John Cooke
| St Peter, Worcester
| 8 Feb
|-
| John Cookes
| Stoke Prior
| 25 Feb
|-
| Symon Corbett
| Defford
| 6 Feb
|-
| Thomas Crowe
| Chadwich, Bromsgrove
| 16 Feb
|-
| Richard Dannce
| Wick by Pershore
| 20 Feb
|-
| Mary Dawks or Dawlks
| Himbleton
| 23 Feb
|-
| Henry Day
| Pinvin
| 27 Feb
|-
| Margaret Desmastres
| Pershore
| 20 Feb
|-
| Thomas Edgcock
| Kinerton, Warwickshire  
| 16 Mar
|-
| Frances Elcoxe
| St Martins, Worcester  
| 22 Mar
|-
| Elizabeth George
| Eckington
| 8 Mar
|-
| Thomas George the Elder
| Naunton in Severn Stoke
| 2 Mar
|-
| Gyles Gilbert
| Longdon
| 18 Mar
|-
| William Griffin
| Clifton in Severn Stoke
| 16 Mar
|-
| Thomas Gyles
| Powick
| 7 Feb
|-
| George Hall
| Broadway
| 7 Mar
|-
| John Hall
| Tarbecke
| 10 Mar
|-
| Ellinor Hay
| Eckington
| 13 Mar
|-
| John Hay
| Alchurch
| 28 Feb
|-
| William Hopkins
| Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
| 16 Mar
|-
| Anne Horsham
| Wicke in Pershore
| 27 Feb
|-
| Richard Hurlston
| Ilmington, Warwickshire
| 28 Feb
|-
| Katherine Inones or Jnones
| &nbsp;? Mathon
| 28 Feb
|-
| Anne Jennings
| Moseley
| 21 Mar
|-
| Robert Knight
| Charlecott, Warwickshire
| 20 Mar
|-
| Cicilia Lee
| Alveston
| 6 Feb
|-
| Edmond Ligon
|
| 12 Mar
|-
| Richard Marshall
| Inkberrow
| 27 Feb
|-
| Anthony Morrice
| Icomb
| 14 Mar
|-
| John Moseley
| Northwich, Blockley
| 14 Mar
|-
| William Moseley
| Puddington or Huddington?
| 27 Feb
|-
| Thomas Munsloe
| Tibberton
| 9 Feb
|-
| Edward Nicholls
| Hunnington
| 8 Mar
|-
| John Oldmole or Oldnall
| Chaddestly Corbett
| 7 Feb
|-
| Thomas Ordway
| Bengworth
| 12 Mar
|-
| John Pearsall
| Whitley Barne, Halesowen, Salop
| 1 Mar
|-
| William Phillips
| Church Lench
| 28 Feb
|-
| Maria or Mary Phipps
| Aldermarston or Alderminster
| 10 Feb
|-
| Alice Pratt
| Wick near Pershore
| 6 Feb
|-
| William Quinton
| Hunnington, Warwickshire
| 27 Feb
|-
| John Rainolds or Reynolds
| Kidderminster
| 27 Feb
|-
| John Richardson
| Shottery in Stratford on Avon Warwickshire
| 20 Mar
|-
| Julie Shawe
| Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
| 16 Feb
|-
| Stephen Sitch
| Shefferie, Warwickshire
| 13 Mar
|-
| Mary Smith
| Eckington (Eskington)
| 11 Mar
|-
| Thomas Smith
| Vifford
| 9 Mar
|-
| Margery Symonds
| Elmley Castle
| 14 Mar
|-
| William Taverner
| Pinvin or Pembry
| 27 Feb
|-
| Mary Tonerton or Towerton
| Holt
| 6 Mar
|-
| Richard Walker
| Ridmington
| 8 Mar
|-
| Michael Warne
| Alvechurch or Alchurch
| 28 Feb
|-
| William Washborne
| Tibberton
| 23 Feb
|-
| Henry Whatley
| Tanworth, Warwickshire  
| 9 Mar
|-
| Thomas Whopper
| Tibberton
| 23 Feb
|}
 
== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==
 
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].  


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>
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 many of the original probate&nbsp;records&nbsp;themselves for the date range 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library or through its 4,600 satellite [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp Family History Centres] worldwide.<br>


<br>
<br>{{Place|Warwickshire}}


[[Category:Warwickshire Probate Records|Probate]]
[[Category:Warwickshire|Probate Records]] [[Category:Probate_records_in_England]]

Revision as of 13:25, 6 August 2009

England Gotoarrow.png Warwickshire

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

Getting Started[edit | edit source]

Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her heirs. 

In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions:

  1. When did your ancestor die?
  2. Where did your ancestor live or own property?

A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiastical courts of the Church of England and given to the civil government. 

  • If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiastical court and it is important to know where he/she lived, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction. 
  • If you know where your ancestor lived before 1858, you should go to the Court Jurisdictions section below to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence. 
  • Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the Principal Probate Registry system.  For more information, scroll to the Post-1857 Probate Records section at the bottom of the page.

Once you have answered the two questions and determined the courts, look for indexes. Indexes will be found on the individual court pages (when you click on a court name) or in the Probate Indexes section below.

Warwickshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)

Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)

Court of the Bishop of Worcester (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 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

Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Court Jurisdiction Changes [edit | edit source]

  • From 1837, the whole of the Warwickshire's parishes came under the probate court jurisdiction of the Bishop of Worcester
  • In pre-1837 only 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 List of Warwickshire Parishes which in pre-1837, came under the court jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory).


Court Jurisdictions[edit | edit source]

Before 1858, every town and parish in Warwickshire came under the jurisdiction of a probate court, and under  concurrent  jurisdiction of one or more additional courts. When looking for the will of an ancestor in Warwickshire, search the courts in the order given in the Parishes listings below (click on first letter of the parish). Be certain to always search indexes first, when available.  For indexes to probates, click on the link for a probate court named above.

Here is a list of Warwickshire towns and parishes by beginning letter, i. e. "A" and the names of pre-1858 probate courts that held jurisdiction over them.  To find the probate court records to search, first locate or learn the parish name in which the ancestor died or resided in just prior to death. Then click on the beginning letter of the parish link below to locate the appropriate probate court and its records accessibility: 

 A,  B,  C,  D-L,  M-P,  Q-S,  T-Z.

Estate Duty Records
[edit | edit source]

Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere. Between 1813-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to Estate Duty Records.

Probate Indexes[edit | edit source]

Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court [1] These are calendars   This diocese covers the northern and eastern parts of county Warwick.

A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield exists online, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publication by the British Record Society in 1892,Calendars of wills administrations in the Consistory court of the bishop of Lichfield. This single index consolidates most Staffordshire wills of the various probate court jurisdictions from 1514-1652 for the Diocese of Lichfield and to 1790 for Warwickshire's smaller peculiar courts.

The Episcopal Consistory Court of The Bishop of Worcester Covers the southwestern third of this county.

Episcopal Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester Calendar of wills and administrations, 1661-1858 is a typscript and is available at The Family History Library, (FHL)  book call no. 942.47 P2e vols 1-4. Contents : v. 1. 1661-1699 -- v. 2. 1700-1749 -- v. 3. 1750-1799 -- v. 4. 1800-1858; or, it is available via microfilm at its 4,600 Family History Centers worldwide. [2]

Worcestershire wills index, 1858-1928
"The index is arranged in alphabetical order of surname followed by the forename. Then the date of probate is cited, thus leading one to the register concerned, together with the relevant page number. It will be noted that there is some slight variation in style of the date of probate quoted. This is because this index was compiled from the existing indexes in each register and the amount of detail in each varied slightly, particularly in the first few volumes." -- from foreword.
CD-ROM no. 1671 at The Family History Library<br [3]

Calendar of wills and administrations in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Worcester, 1451-1652 : also marriage licenses and sequestrations now deposited in the Probate registry at Worcester
The Index library (British Record Society) : v. 31, 39
Family History Library Call Numbers
942 B4b v. 31 1968 942 B4b v. 39 1968
Contents: v. 31. 1451-1600 -- v. 39. 1601-1652. [4]

Also available 942.47 S2c [5]

Family History Library

A calendar of wills and administrations preserved in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester, l45l-(l652) [6]


Index of Probate from January-March 1660-1 for the Bishop of Worcester Original Wills

Name Place Date
John Allen Wixelsford 6 Mar
William Averill Broadway 20 Mar
Thomas Baker Juichfieh? 28 Feb
Roger Barnard Stratford Upon Avon 16 Mar
William Beaver Combrook, Warwickshire 8 Mar
Ferdinand Bentley Wick by Pershore 27 Feb
Thomas Bonnar Alderminster 13 Feb
Francis Buck Oddingley 28 Feb
John Butler Swale 6 Feb
William Butler Cateshill, Bromsgrove 28 Feb
Robert Caldecote Hunington 28 Feb
Thomas Clarke City of Worcester 21 Feb
William Climer Shenston in Stone 23 Feb
Robert Coldecott or Colicoal Hunington 28 Feb
Mathew Collet Alderminster or Aldermarston 7 Mar
John Cooke St Peter, Worcester 8 Feb
John Cookes Stoke Prior 25 Feb
Symon Corbett Defford 6 Feb
Thomas Crowe Chadwich, Bromsgrove 16 Feb
Richard Dannce Wick by Pershore 20 Feb
Mary Dawks or Dawlks Himbleton 23 Feb
Henry Day Pinvin 27 Feb
Margaret Desmastres Pershore 20 Feb
Thomas Edgcock Kinerton, Warwickshire 16 Mar
Frances Elcoxe St Martins, Worcester 22 Mar
Elizabeth George Eckington 8 Mar
Thomas George the Elder Naunton in Severn Stoke 2 Mar
Gyles Gilbert Longdon 18 Mar
William Griffin Clifton in Severn Stoke 16 Mar
Thomas Gyles Powick 7 Feb
George Hall Broadway 7 Mar
John Hall Tarbecke 10 Mar
Ellinor Hay Eckington 13 Mar
John Hay Alchurch 28 Feb
William Hopkins Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire 16 Mar
Anne Horsham Wicke in Pershore 27 Feb
Richard Hurlston Ilmington, Warwickshire 28 Feb
Katherine Inones or Jnones  ? Mathon 28 Feb
Anne Jennings Moseley 21 Mar
Robert Knight Charlecott, Warwickshire 20 Mar
Cicilia Lee Alveston 6 Feb
Edmond Ligon 12 Mar
Richard Marshall Inkberrow 27 Feb
Anthony Morrice Icomb 14 Mar
John Moseley Northwich, Blockley 14 Mar
William Moseley Puddington or Huddington? 27 Feb
Thomas Munsloe Tibberton 9 Feb
Edward Nicholls Hunnington 8 Mar
John Oldmole or Oldnall Chaddestly Corbett 7 Feb
Thomas Ordway Bengworth 12 Mar
John Pearsall Whitley Barne, Halesowen, Salop 1 Mar
William Phillips Church Lench 28 Feb
Maria or Mary Phipps Aldermarston or Alderminster 10 Feb
Alice Pratt Wick near Pershore 6 Feb
William Quinton Hunnington, Warwickshire 27 Feb
John Rainolds or Reynolds Kidderminster 27 Feb
John Richardson Shottery in Stratford on Avon Warwickshire 20 Mar
Julie Shawe Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire 16 Feb
Stephen Sitch Shefferie, Warwickshire 13 Mar
Mary Smith Eckington (Eskington) 11 Mar
Thomas Smith Vifford 9 Mar
Margery Symonds Elmley Castle 14 Mar
William Taverner Pinvin or Pembry 27 Feb
Mary Tonerton or Towerton Holt 6 Mar
Richard Walker Ridmington 8 Mar
Michael Warne Alvechurch or Alchurch 28 Feb
William Washborne Tibberton 23 Feb
Henry Whatley Tanworth, Warwickshire 9 Mar
Thomas Whopper Tibberton 23 Feb

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 many of the original probate records themselves for the date range 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library or through its 4,600 satellite Family History Centres worldwide.


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