Staffordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Staffordshire]]''
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| link5=[[Staffordshire_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 Staffordshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
== Step By Step  ==


=== 1858 to the Present  ===
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.<br>2. Proceed to the "Probate Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library".<br>3. Contact or visit the Staffordshire County Record Office or,&nbsp;hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.<br>4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records;&nbsp;then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the&nbsp;original wills and admons also&nbsp;on microfilm via any&nbsp;[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp centers]&nbsp;near you.


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
<br>If no will is found, your ancestor may not have left one.&nbsp;


==== Online Records ====
== Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==


* '''1858-1957''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/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 & images
The following probate courts&nbsp;had some jurisdiction over the county of Staffordshire prior to 1858; note that most of Staffordshire was covered by&nbsp;its largest court jurisdiction, called--the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory), but&nbsp;the county also had numerous concurrent smaller&nbsp;jurisdictions called "peculiars" courts as well (see the "Staffordshire Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" section below to determine the correct court jurisdiction for the parish in which you may be searching):
* '''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904 England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry($); index
* '''1858-2019''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019] at Findmypast($); index


=== Before 1858  ===
*[[Episcopal Consistory Court of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Alrewas and Weeford]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Burton on Trent]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Colwich]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Eccleshall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Gnosall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Hansacre and Armitage]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of High Offley and Flixton]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Longdon]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Pattingham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Penkridge]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Prees or Pipe Minor]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgely]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Tettenhall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Tyrley]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Whittington and Baswich]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Wolverhampton]]


Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Staffordshire, follow these steps:
In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br>


==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
*Wealthy individuals<br>
*People who owned property in more than one county or diocese of the Church of England<br>
*Military and naval personnel<br>
*People who lived or owned property outside England<br>


Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire.
=== Appeals Courts  ===


Start with:
There were two appeals courts within the Prerogative Court of Canterbury which heard disputes over the administration or probate of an estate. They were the:  


*'''1518-1858''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62295/ Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, England, Indexes of Wills and Probate, 1518-1858] at Ancestry — index ($)
*[[Court of Arches]] which held jurisdiction&nbsp;over 13 parishes in the City of London and concurrent jurisdiction over the whole of the&nbsp;provinces of York and Canterbury&nbsp;(records are at Lambeth Palace Library, London).&nbsp;
*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} at FamilySearch — [[England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; indexes & images; ''Also at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/staffordshire-dioceses-of-lichfield-and-coventry-wills-and-probate-1521-1860 Findmypast], ($)'' <br>
*[[High Court of Delegates|High Court of Delegates]] or sometimes known as the Court of Delegates, also heard appeals cases regarding probates and administrations.


Also check:
The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court.


*An index for 1630-1780 for Staffordshire covering 23000 plus probate documents can be found at [https://www.staffsnameindexes.org.uk/default.aspx?Index=C Will and administrations]
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> ==
*A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publication by the British Record Society in 1892,[http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=4zYEAAAAIAAJ ''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 Staffordshire smaller peculiar courts.
*The Manor of Sedgley has online indexes listed under the Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgley below.
*[http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes Index of Wills at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies (downloadable PDF file)]


==== Printed Indexes  ====
Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.&nbsp; Search the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] for the title of the court or the court as&nbsp;an author.&nbsp;


Lichfield wills and administrations, 1516-1652&nbsp;: also "peculiars" at Lichfield, Birmingham and Derby, 1529-1652; 1675-1790; 1753-1790, found in Index Library(see above for online copy of book) volume 7.&nbsp; FS Library British book 942 B4b vol. 7.
== Probate Indexes  ==


Wills in the Consistory Court of Lichfield&nbsp;: 1650-1700 editor Cliff Webb found in&nbsp;Index Library vol. 125. FS Library British book 942 B4b vol. 125.  
Before&nbsp;looking for a will, you should search an index.  


The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>
==== Online Indexes  ====


==== Probate Calendars ====
A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield exists online, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publicationby the British Record Society in 1892,[http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=4zYEAAAAIAAJ ''Calendars of wills administrations in the Consistory court of the bishop of Lichfield'']''.&nbsp; ''This single index consolidates most&nbsp;Staffordshire&nbsp;wills of the various probate court jurisdictions&nbsp;from 1514-1652 for the Diocese of Lichfield and to 1790 for Staffordshire smaller peculiar courts.''&nbsp;''


Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court. {{FSC|309060|title-id|disp=}} These are calendars.&nbsp; They cover most of the county of Stafford. <br>
==== Printed Indexes  ====


<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?
See the above online indexes available at Google.books which is copy of a printed will index for Staffordshire.


*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.  
The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====
==== Probate Calendars ====
 
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;
 
Determine ''where'' your ancestor died. It is easier to find a probate record if you know&nbsp;the parish where your ancestor lived or died. To learn the parish for the place where your ancestor died, look&nbsp;the place&nbsp;up in a gazetteer (topographical dictionary). Here is a link to the 1872 ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales'' online:&nbsp;&nbsp; [https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ Vision of Britain]
 
The gazetteer will either tell you:


*A place is a parish, or if not--  
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; They cover most of the county of Stafford.
*What parish it is in


&nbsp;
== Probate Court Jurisdictions <br> ==


Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.  
Before 1858, most Staffordshire parishes came under the major probate court jurisdiction of the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory). A few parishes came under the&nbsp;jurisdiction of a smaller secondary or peculiar court.&nbsp; When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given.&nbsp;For&nbsp;an authoritative treatise on&nbsp;each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes&nbsp;comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication,&nbsp;''Wills and Their Whereabouts''; also available at&nbsp;the Family History Library, FHL&nbsp;book call [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=413992&disp=Wills+and+their+whereabouts%20%20&columns=*,0,0 #942 S2wa].&nbsp;


==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
The links below pertain to an alphabetical list of Staffordshire parishes and each's&nbsp;respective&nbsp;probate court to which it was attached.&nbsp;When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. In addition, always search indexes ''first''.&nbsp; For indexes, either click on the court name links above or in the alphabetical list of parishes indicated below in the alphabetical list.&nbsp;


Once you have identified the parish where your ancestor lived or died, learn which courts had jurisdiction over it by clicking on a link below for the letter the parish begins with.&nbsp; Once&nbsp;you find the parish you want in the list, you can click on the court listed to go to a page that will help you find the records for that court.
To view each parish and to learn which&nbsp;court[s] to search first for probates of persons living in or owning property in that&nbsp; parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with


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<br>  
<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, Staffordshire - Probate records|subject|subject-id=1971113801|disp=Staffordshire 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.
 
== Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==


The following probate courts&nbsp;had some jurisdiction over the county of Staffordshire prior to 1858; note that most of Staffordshire was covered by&nbsp;its largest court jurisdiction, called--the [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry&nbsp;(Episcopal Consistory)]], but&nbsp;the county also had numerous concurrent smaller&nbsp;jurisdictions called "peculiars"&nbsp;(see the "Staffordshire Court Jurisdictions By Parish" section&nbsp;above to determine the correct court jurisdiction for the parish in which you may be searching for a will):
== Estate Duty Records<br> ==


*[[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
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>
*[[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Alrewas and Weeford]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Burton on Trent]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Colwich]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Eccleshall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Gnosall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Hansacre and Armitage]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of High Offley and Flixton]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Longdon]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Pattingham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Penkridge]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Prees or Pipe Minor]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgely]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Tettenhall]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Tyrley]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Whittington and Baswich]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Wolverhampton]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


<br>
== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<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].


Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City.&nbsp; Search the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FamilySearch Catalog/frameset_fhlc.asp FamilySearch Catalog] for the title of the court or the court as&nbsp;an author.&nbsp;
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.+Principal+Probate+Registry&columns=*,0,0 records] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br>


<br>
{{Place|Staffordshire}}


[[Category:Staffordshire Probate Records]]
[[Category:Staffordshire]] [[Category:Probate_records_in_England]]

Revision as of 09:14, 23 November 2009

England Gotoarrow.png Staffordshire

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

Step By Step[edit | edit source]

1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.
2. Proceed to the "Probate Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library".
3. Contact or visit the Staffordshire County Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.
4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any centers near you.


If no will is found, your ancestor may not have left one. 

Staffordshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

The following probate courts had some jurisdiction over the county of Staffordshire prior to 1858; note that most of Staffordshire was covered by its largest court jurisdiction, called--the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory), but the county also had numerous concurrent smaller jurisdictions called "peculiars" courts as well (see the "Staffordshire Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" section below to determine the correct court jurisdiction for the parish in which you may be searching):

In addition, the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.

  • Wealthy individuals
  • People who owned property in more than one county or diocese of the Church of England
  • Military and naval personnel
  • People who lived or owned property outside England

Appeals Courts[edit | edit source]

There were two appeals courts within the Prerogative Court of Canterbury which heard disputes over the administration or probate of an estate. They were the:

  • Court of Arches which held jurisdiction over 13 parishes in the City of London and concurrent jurisdiction over the whole of the provinces of York and Canterbury (records are at Lambeth Palace Library, London). 
  • High Court of Delegates or sometimes known as the Court of Delegates, also heard appeals cases regarding probates and administrations.

The Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury also served as an appeals court.

Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire
[edit | edit source]

Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  Search the Family History Library Catalog for the title of the court or the court as an author. 

Probate Indexes[edit | edit source]

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

Online Indexes[edit | edit source]

A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield exists online, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publicationby 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 Staffordshire smaller peculiar courts. 

Printed Indexes[edit | edit source]

See the above online indexes available at Google.books which is copy of a printed will index for Staffordshire.

The Smethwick Local history Society has published the Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747 : in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.

Probate Calendars[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.  They cover most of the county of Stafford.

Probate Court Jurisdictions
[edit | edit source]

Before 1858, most Staffordshire parishes came under the major probate court jurisdiction of the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory). A few parishes came under the jurisdiction of a smaller secondary or peculiar court.  When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. For an authoritative treatise on each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, Wills and Their Whereabouts; also available at the Family History Library, FHL book call #942 S2wa. 

The links below pertain to an alphabetical list of Staffordshire parishes and each's respective probate court to which it was attached. When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. In addition, always search indexes first.  For indexes, either click on the court name links above or in the alphabetical list of parishes indicated below in the alphabetical list. 

To view each parish and to learn which court[s] to search first for probates of persons living in or owning property in that  parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with

A   B   C-G H-L M-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.

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.

v • d• e
Links to Staffordshire-related articles

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)

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