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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]] For an explanation  of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
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== Staffordshire Probate Courts ==
== Getting Started ==


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==
''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.


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish ==
=== 1858 to the Present ===


Before 1858, every town and parish in Staffordshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  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 [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]. Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above [soon to be constructed]. When looking for the will of an ancester, you should search the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  For indexes, click on the court name links above.  
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.


Here is a list of Staffordshire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.  For other parishes, click on a letter link:  [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B through G|B-G]], [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H through L|H-L]], [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M through S|M-S]], [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]].
==== Online Records ====


<br>
* '''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


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
=== Before 1858  ===
|-
 
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
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:
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
 
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
|-
 
| Abbots Bromley
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire.
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)  
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Start with:
|-
 
| Adbaston
*'''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 ($)
| Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield  
*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} at FamilySearch — [[England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; indexes & images; ''Also at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/staffordshire-dioceses-of-lichfield-and-coventry-wills-and-probate-1521-1860 Findmypast], ($)'' <br>
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
|-
Also check:
| Acton Trussel
 
| Peculiar Court of Whittington and Baswich
*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]
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
*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.
| Aldridge
*[http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes Index of Wills at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies (downloadable PDF file)]
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== Printed Indexes  ====
|-
 
| Alrewas
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.
| Peculiar Court of Alrewas and Weeford
 
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
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.
|-
 
| Alstonefield
The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)  
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
==== Probate Calendars  ====
|-
 
| Alton
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>
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?
|-
 
| Armitage
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
| Peculiar Court of Hansacrea and Armitage
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
|-
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
| Ashford
 
| Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;
| 2 - Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
|-
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]
| Ashley
 
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
The gazetteer will either tell you:
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
*A place is a parish, or if not--  
| Aston
*What parish it is in
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
 
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
&nbsp;
 
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
 
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
 
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.
 
&nbsp;
 
{| width="306" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 306px; height: 25px"
|-
|-
| Audley
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] &nbsp;
| Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]] &nbsp;
| 2 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C through G|C-G]]
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H through L|H-L]]
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M through S|M-S]]
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]]
|}
|}


<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|486788|subject_id|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):
 
*[[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
*[[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 records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br>
<br>  


<br>
[[Category:Staffordshire Probate Records]]

Latest revision as of 10:24, 21 May 2024

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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 wills and 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

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

Online Records

Before 1858

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:

Step 1. Search Indexes

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

Start with:

Also check:

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.  FS Library British book 942 B4b vol. 7.

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

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

Probate Calendars

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.


Did you find a reference to a probate record?

  • If yes, go to Step 4 below.
  • If no, go to Step 2 below.

Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died

Determine when your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 

Determine where your ancestor died. It is easier to find a probate record if you know the parish where your ancestor lived or died. To learn the parish for the place where your ancestor died, look the place up in a gazetteer (topographical dictionary). Here is a link to the 1872 Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales online:   Vision of Britain

The gazetteer will either tell you:

  • A place is a parish, or if not--
  • What parish it is in

 

Once you have identified the parish, go to Step 3.

Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish

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.  Once 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.

 

A   B   C-G H-L M-S T-Z


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:

Staffordshire Probate Courts

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 and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory), but the county also had numerous concurrent smaller jurisdictions called "peculiars" (see the "Staffordshire Court Jurisdictions By Parish" section above to determine the correct court jurisdiction for the parish in which you may be searching for a will):


Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire

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


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