Jump to content

Staffordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

Corrected subject vs. keywords lookups for FSC.
mNo edit summary
(Corrected subject vs. keywords lookups for FSC.)
 
(44 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Staffordshire]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] Staffordshire_Probate_Records''
{{Staffordshire-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
| link2=[[Staffordshire, England Genealogy|Staffordshire]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Staffordshire_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 Staffordshire. For a general description of England probate records, 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.  


=== 1858 to the Present  ===
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.  
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.
 
==== Online Records ====
 
* '''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
* '''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  ===
=== Before 1858  ===
Line 15: Line 27:
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire. Search these indexes first:  
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire.  
 
Start with:
 
*'''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 ($)
*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} at FamilySearch — [[England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; indexes & images; ''Also at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/staffordshire-dioceses-of-lichfield-and-coventry-wills-and-probate-1521-1860 Findmypast], ($)'' <br>
 
Also check:


*An index for 1650-1730 for Staffordshire covering&nbsp;23000 plus probate documents&nbsp;can be found&nbsp;at&nbsp;[http://www.staffsnameindexes.org.uk/ Will and administrations]  
*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]
*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'']''.&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.  
*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.
*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  ====
==== Printed Indexes  ====


Lichfield wills and administrations, 1516-1652 : 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; FHL British book 942 B4b vol. 7.
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.  


Wills in the Consistory Court of Lichfield : 1650-1700 editor Cliff Webb found in&nbsp;Index Library vol. 125. FHL British book 942 B4b vol. 125.
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.  


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


==== Probate Calendars  ====
==== Probate Calendars  ====


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


<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?  
<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?  
Line 42: Line 62:
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;  
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; [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]  
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:  
The gazetteer will either tell you:  
Line 59: Line 79:
&nbsp;  
&nbsp;  


{| style="width: 306px; height: 25px" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="306"
{| width="306" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 306px; height: 25px"
|-
|-
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] &nbsp;  
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] &nbsp;  
Line 69: Line 89:
|}
|}


<br>
<br>  


==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
Line 75: Line 95:
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:  
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:  


*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
*{{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 the[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library ]or a [[Introduction to LDS Family History Centers|family history center and]] obtain a copy of the record on microfilm. For more information, click on a court name below. <br>
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.


== Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==
== 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 below to determine the correct court jurisdiction for the parish in which you may be searching for a will):  
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):  


*[[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]]&nbsp;&nbsp;  
*[[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]]&nbsp;&nbsp;  
Line 103: Line 123:
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


<br>
<br>  


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> ==
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> ==


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;  
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;  


<br>
<br>  


[[Category:Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Staffordshire Probate Records]]
Approver, Batcheditor, Moderator, Patroller, Protector, Reviewer, Bots, Bureaucrats, editor, Interface administrators, pagecreator, pagedeleter, Page Ownership admin, Push subscription managers, Suppressors, Administrators, Upload Wizard campaign editors, Widget editors
321,763

edits