Essex Probate Records: Difference between revisions

From FamilySearch Wiki
VisualWikitext
(Corrected subject vs. keywords lookups for FSC.)
(Text addition)
(59 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Essex-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
[[England|<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1261522788618_143" />England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Essex]]  
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
| link2=[[Essex, England Genealogy|Essex]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Essex_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
}}
== 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 Essex. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.  
The following article is about probate records in the county of Essex. For general information about English probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].  


=== 1858 to the Present  ===
<br>


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
== Description  ==


==== Online Records ====
''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term ''probate'' refers to a collection of documents, including [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]], [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]] (also called admons), [[I genealogical glossary terms|inventories]], and [[A genealogical glossary terms|act books]]. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.


*'''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
Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The '''Probates After 1857'''&nbsp;section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.  
*'''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  ===
<br>


Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Essex, follow these steps:
== Description  ==


==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term ''probate'' refers to a collection of documents, including [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]], [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]] (also called admons), [[I genealogical glossary terms|inventories]], and [[A genealogical glossary terms|act books]]. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.  


Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Essex. Search these indexes first:
Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The '''Probates After 1857'''&nbsp;section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.  


County-wide general will indexes for Essex County are now available online, making Essex County one of the foremost in facilitating probate research in  England.  
== Getting Started ==


The following sites index significant portions of Essex wills:  
Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858:<br>


*Essex County Record Office's outstanding wills index from [https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/] consolidates into one single index, the county's wills. Images have been uploaded up to 1720.<ref>'Where there's a will: major update to Essex Ancestors,' ''Essex Record Office Blog,'' 30 October 2014, http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/where-theres-a-will-major-update-to-essex-ancestors/.</ref>  
#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br>
*[https://www.findmypast.com/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/essex Wills at Chelmsford, 1400-1858] at Findmypast ($).
#Go to the Court Jurisdictions section below.<br>
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/essex-wills-beneficiaries-index-1675-1858 Essex Wills Beneficiaries Index, 1675-1858] at Findmypast ($).
#Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens an article showing a table of places and the courts that had jurisdiction over them.<br>
#Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.<br>


The Essex County Record Office previously compiled and published a complete name index covering wills and administrations from the '''''first eight'' '''Essex County probate court jurisdictions listed above (through the Liberty of Sokens).  The index is available in three volumes online through the National Wills Index and in book form at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City:
== Court Jurisdictions by Parish<br> ==


*Emmison, F. G., ed.  ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford 1400-1858''.  3 vols. London: s.n., 1961, by the British Record Society. Digital versions online at [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ National Wills Index] ($); {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=FS Library Book 942 B4b v. 78, 79, 84; microfilms 0962739 and 0962740; microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802}}.
Here&nbsp;are links to&nbsp;an alphabetical&nbsp;list of Essex parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each.&nbsp; To see which courts to search for probates of persons living in or owning property in particular parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with.  


*Transcriptions of Essex wills from various probate court jurisdictions at <br>[http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm].
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="472" border="0"
|-
| &nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions|A]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'B' Parishes|B]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'C' Parishes|C]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-F|D-F]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'G' Parishes|G]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes H-K|H-K]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'L' Parishes|L]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes M-N|M-N]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes O-R|O-R]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'S' Parishes|S]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes T-V|T-V]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes W-Z|W-Z]]&nbsp;
|}


Always re-visit these websites as new, updated data may periodically be posted online.
== Essex Probate Courts  ==


If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors, look in the '''published indexes '''listed here.  
The following&nbsp;ecclesiastical courts&nbsp;had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Essex prior to 1858.&nbsp;&nbsp;Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.&nbsp;


Other printed indexes are found listed on the court pages.  '''Click on the court name links above.'''  
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex]]
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Liberty of the Sokens]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Deanery of Bocking]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Good Easter]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Writtle with Roxwell]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Havering-atte-Bower]] (or Hornchurch)
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of London (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral]]


Did you find a reference to a probate record?
In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br>


*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*Wealthy individuals<br>
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
*People who owned property in more than one county<br>
*Military and naval personnel<br>
*People who lived or owned property outside England<br>


==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====
=== Appeals Courts ===


Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:


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 are two outstanding topographical dictionaries online:
*[[Court of Arches]]
*[[High Court of Delegates]]


*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain] - the 1870 Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales online
The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court.  
*[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=445 British-History] - has Lewis' ''Topographical Dictionary of England''


These gazetteers will either tell you:
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Essex<br> ==


*A place is a parish, or
Probate records for the&nbsp;first eight&nbsp;courts listed above are located at the [http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/guc.jsp?channelOid=13813&guideOid=14783&guideContentOid=14819 Essex Record Office]. The additional four courts' records are located in Greater London-based record offices (click links to view).  
*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.  
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; <br>


Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
== Probate Indexes  ==


==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
Before looking for a will, you should search an index.  


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. Here are links to an alphabetical list of Essex parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each. To see which courts to search for probates of persons living in or owning property in particular parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with.
=== Online Indexes ===


{| border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="469"
County-wide&nbsp;general will indexes for Essex County are now available online, making Essex County one of the foremost in facilitating probate research in&nbsp; England.&nbsp;
|-
 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions|A]] 
The following two online sites&nbsp;contain significant portions of&nbsp;Essex wills:
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'B' Parishes|B ]]
 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'C' Parishes|C]] 
*These&nbsp;indexes overall,&nbsp;are transcriptions to most&nbsp;Essex county wills of the various probate court jurisdictions&nbsp;at
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-F|D-F]]
 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'G' Parishes|G ]]
[http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm]  
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes H-K|H-K]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'L' Parishes|L]] 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes M-N|M-N]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes O-R|O-R]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'S' Parishes|S]] 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes T-V|T-V]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes W-Z|W-Z]]
|}


==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
*Essex County Record Office's outstanding wills index from [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp early to 1857]&nbsp;consolidates into one&nbsp;single index, the&nbsp;county's&nbsp;wills.


Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
Always re-visit these websites as&nbsp;new, updated data may periodically be posted online.  


*{{FSC|England, Essex - Probate records|subject|subject-id=1505677399|disp=Essex 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>
=== Printed Indexes  ===
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.


== Essex Probate Courts  ==
If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors,&nbsp;look in the '''published indexes '''listed here.


The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Essex prior to 1858. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes. 
The Essex County Record Office compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from&nbsp;the '''''first&nbsp;eight'' '''Essex County probate court jurisdictions listed above (through the Liberty of Sokens).&nbsp; The index is available in three volumns at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City:


*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex]]
*Emmison, F. G., ed.&nbsp; ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford''.&nbsp; London: s.n., 1961,&nbsp;by the British Record Society.&nbsp; (FHL book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=247479&disp=Wills+at+Chelmsford+%28Essex+and+East+He%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 B4b] vols. 78, 79 &amp; 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740, and on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester]]
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of London (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Good Easter]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Writtle with Roxwell]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Deanery of Bocking]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Liberty of the Sokens]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Havering-atte-Bower]] (or Hornchurch)
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Essex<br>  ==
Other printed indexes&nbsp;are found listed on the court pages.&nbsp; '''Click on the court name links above.'''


Probate records for the first eight courts listed above are located at the [https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate Essex Record Office]. The additional four courts' records are located in Greater London-based record offices (click links to view).
== Estate Duty Records<br> ==


Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Search the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog ]for the title of the court or the court as an author. <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.&nbsp; Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br>


== References ==
== Probates After 1857  ==
{{reflist}}


{{Essex}
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. For more information, go to [[Principal Probate Registry]].<br>


[[Category:Essex Probate Records]]
[[Category:Essex]]

Revision as of 16:00, 22 December 2009

England Gotoarrow.png Essex

The following article is about probate records in the county of Essex. For general information about English probate records, click here.


Description[edit | edit source]

Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term probate refers to a collection of documents, including wills, administrations (also called admons), inventories, and act books. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.

Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The Probates After 1857 section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.


Description[edit | edit source]

Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term probate refers to a collection of documents, including wills, administrations (also called admons), inventories, and act books. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.

Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The Probates After 1857 section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.

Getting Started[edit | edit source]

Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858:

  1. Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived.
  2. Go to the Court Jurisdictions section below.
  3. Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens an article showing a table of places and the courts that had jurisdiction over them.
  4. Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.

Court Jurisdictions by Parish
[edit | edit source]

Here are links to an alphabetical list of Essex parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each.  To see which courts to search for probates of persons living in or owning property in particular parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with.

     A     B     C    D-F    G     H-K     L     M-N     O-R     S     T-V     W-Z 

Essex Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Essex prior to 1858.  Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes. 

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
  • Military and naval personnel
  • People who lived or owned property outside England

Appeals Courts[edit | edit source]

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

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

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

Probate records for the first eight courts listed above are located at the Essex Record Office. The additional four courts' records are located in Greater London-based record offices (click links to view).

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]

County-wide general will indexes for Essex County are now available online, making Essex County one of the foremost in facilitating probate research in  England. 

The following two online sites contain significant portions of Essex wills:

  • These indexes overall, are transcriptions to most Essex county wills of the various probate court jurisdictions at

http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm

  • Essex County Record Office's outstanding wills index from early to 1857 consolidates into one single index, the county's wills.

Always re-visit these websites as new, updated data may periodically be posted online.

Printed Indexes[edit | edit source]

If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors, look in the published indexes listed here.

The Essex County Record Office compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from the first eight Essex County probate court jurisdictions listed above (through the Liberty of Sokens).  The index is available in three volumns at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City:

  • Emmison, F. G., ed.  [Index to] Wills at Chelmsford.  London: s.n., 1961, by the British Record Society.  (FHL book 942 B4b vols. 78, 79 & 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740, and on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)

Other printed indexes are found listed on the court pages.  Click on the court name links above.

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.  Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to Estate Duty Records.

Probates After 1857[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. For more information, go to Principal Probate Registry.

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

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Essex_Probate_Records&oldid=249917"