England, Durham, Dean and Chapter of Durham's Allerton and Allertonshire Original Wills, Inventories and Bonds - FamilySearch Historical Records

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England, Durham, Dean and Chapter of Durham's Allerton and Allertonshire Original Wills, Inventories and Bonds, 1666-1845 CID2358734 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
Durham, England
Flag of England
Location of Durham, England
Location of England
Record Description
Record Type	Wills, Inventories and Bonds
Collection years	1666-1845
FamilySearch Resources
Durham Probate Records
Durham Genealogy
England Probate Records
Related Websites
UK Parish Records England
Archive
Durham University Library

What is in the Collection?

This collection consists of digitized probate records from the hundred of Allertonshire in Yorkshire for the years 1666-1845.

In the period of this collection, Allertonshire was a peculiar of the Diocese of Durham. A peculiar is a locality which is administered by a diocese other than the one where it is actually located; that is, it is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another. In this case, the parishes of Allertonshire are administered by the Diocese of Durham, rather than by the Diocese of York.

A will conveys real (immovable) property to heirs after an individual’s death.

A bond is a written guarantee that a person will faithfully perform the tasks assigned to him by a probate court. The executor posted a testamentary bond, the administrator posted an administration bond, and the guardian of a minor child posted a bond of tuition or curation.

An inventory lists belongings and their values, including such items as household goods, tools, and personal items. Occupations are often mentioned.

Collection Content

This collection contains various types of probate records, as described above. Other types of probate records may be present, but are unlikely.

Sample Images

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  Will

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  Inventory

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  Bond

What Can This Collection Tell Me?

The following lists indicate potential information given in each type of record. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all the listed information, as record-keeping practices often varied by time and location.

Wills usually include: Surname and Given Name of the Participant Age and/or Birthdate of Participant Gender of Participant Residence Occupation Marital Status Surname and Given Name of Spouse Name and Birth Date of Children Name and Address of Beneficiary Name and Address of Executor of the Will

Inventories usually include: Name and Address of Property Owner Address or Residence A list of Personal Assets

Bonds usually include: Surname and Given Name of the Participant Age of Participant Gender of Participant Current Residence and Previous Residences Current Occupation

How Do I Search the Collection?

Before beginning a search in these records, it is best to know the full name of the individual in question, as well as an approximate time range for the desired record. This information provides the quickest, most reliable path to finding the correct person. Of course, other information can be substituted as necessary.

View Images in This Collection by Visiting the Browse Page

⇒ Select Browse through images on the initial collection page
⇒ Select the Durham University Library Reference Number to go to the images.

Compare the information found on the images with what is already known determine if a particular record relates to the correct person. This process may require examining multiple records before the correct person is located.

Some of the records in this collection may be written in an old script that can be challenging to read. Refer to BYU’s Script Tutorial for assistance with reading the records.

Search by Name with an Index

These records are linked to an index on Durham University's website: North East Inheritance database (pre-1858 Durham Probate Records)

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page to return a list of possible matches. Compare the individuals on the list with what is already known to find the correct family or person. This step may require examining multiple individuals before a match is located.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

• Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference; see below for assistance in citing this collection. Save or print a copy of the image if possible.
• Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined.
• Use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in other records. Particularly useful for research in nineteenth-century England are the England Census, parish registers, and civil registration records.
• Continue to search the collection to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

• When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person. If listed, a personal title may be a clue to property ownership or occupation, either of which might be noted in other records.
• Check for variants of given names and surnames. For much of the period of this collection, spelling was not standardized; pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation. Simple clerical errors were also always possible. Furthermore, individuals were often listed under a middle name, nickname, or abbreviation of their given name. For women, remember that it was not uncommon to revert to a maiden name after the death of a husband.
• Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range.
• Search the records of nearby parishes. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon.

For additional help searching online collections see FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Citing this Collection

Citing sources correctly makes it easier to refer back to information that has already been discovered; proper citations are therefore indispensable to keeping track of genealogical research. Following established formulae in formatting citations also allows others to verify completed research by helping them find and examine records for themselves.

To be of use, citations must include information such as the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records, if available. The following examples demonstrate how to present this information for both this particular collection as well as individual records and images within the collection:

Collection Citation:

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.

Image Citation:
This template has been deprecated and is no longer used.

When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen. You can browse through images in this collection by visiting the browse page for England, Durham, Dean and Chapter of Durham's Allerton and Allertonshire Original Wills, Inventories and Bonds, 1666-1845.

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