Cumberland Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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


== Some Explanatory Notes on Cumberland 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 Cumberland. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.


== Court Jurisdictions ==
=== 1858 to the Present ===


Before 1858, every town and parish in Cumberland was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  When searching for the will of an ancestor in Cumberland, you should find in the jurisdictions lists of name of the town or parish where he/she lived or owned property and search the records of the courts in the order given.  Search indexes first.  To find indexes, click on a court name.
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 parishes beginning with A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them. 
==== Online Records ====


For other parishes, click on a link:  [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes B-C|B-C]], [[Cumberland_Probate_Records,_Parishes_D-H|D-H]], [[Cumberland_Probate_Records,_Parishes_I-N|I-N]], [[Cumberland_Probate_Records,_Parishes_O-Z|O-Z]].
*'''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 & 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


Return to the [[Cumberland|Cumberland County]] page.
=== Before 1858  ===


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Cumberland, follow these steps:  
|-
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Addingham
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Before looking for a will, you should search a probate index. It will save time and give a reference to finding a copy of a will. A few indexes are mentioned here. Others indexes, especially if they only index the wills for one court, are mentioned on each court page.<br>


|-
*[https://www.findmypast.com/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/cumberland/index-to-the-wills-proved-in-the-consistory-court-of-carlisle-1661-1750-introduction-to-original-volume Index to the Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Carlisle 1661-1750] at Findmypast - index ($).
| Aikton
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
Indexes are found in archives and in the FamilySearch Library. Click here to see a list of the library's holdings for {{FSC|506247|subject-id|disp=indexes}} and {{FSC|453504|subject-id|disp=wills}}. Films can be viewed in the Library or in a [https://www.familysearch.org/en/centers/about FamilySearch Center]. <br>


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Did you find a reference to a will?


|-
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
| Ainstable
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
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 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 is a link to the 1872 ''Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales'' online:
| Allhallows
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ Vision of Britain]


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
The gazetteer will either tell you:


|-
*A place is a parish, or
| Allonby
*What parish it is a part of, or
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
*What place it is near.
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.


|-
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
| Alston with Garrigill
| Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)
| Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) -- 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
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 Cumberland fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Click on a link below for the letter the parish begins with.<br>


|-
| Arlecdon
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Copeland
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" style="width: 360px; height: 30px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
|-
|-
| Armathwaite
|  
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
|  
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
|  
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
| [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes A|A]] 
| [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes B-C|B-C]]
| [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-H|D-H]]
| [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes I-N|I-N]]
| [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes O-T|O-T]]
| [[Cumberland Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes U-Z|U-Z]]
|}


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
<br>
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Arthuret
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Once you have found an index reference to a will or other probate record, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


|-
*{{FSC|453504|subject_id|disp=Cumberland 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>
| Aspatria
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
| Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)  
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
== Cumberland Probate Courts  ==


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Cumberland prior to 1858. Click on a court name to learn more about its records, indexes and finding a probate for your ancestor. To determine which court, go to the Court Jurisdictions section above.<br>


|}
*[[Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Copeland]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


<br>
<br>


== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Cumberland Probate Courts ==


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].  
The original probate records are housed in one of four record offices in the following cities: Barrow, Kendall, Carlisle, and Whitehaven. Links to these offices are found on the [http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/recordoffices/default.asp Cumbria Archive Service] site.  


A 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 the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=517092&disp=Record+copy+wills%2C+1858%2D1925%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Principal Registry] and the [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=517092&disp=Record+copy+wills%2C+1858%2D1925%20%20&columns=*,0,0 District Registries] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library. <br>
{{Place|Cumberland|Probate Records}}
{{England Probate Records}}


[[Category:England|England]]
[[Category:Cumberland Probate Records|Probate Records]]

Latest revision as of 11:04, 21 May 2024

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Beginning Research
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Getting Started[edit | edit source]

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 Cumberland. See England Probate Records for a general description of probate records in England.

1858 to the Present[edit | edit source]

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

Online Records[edit | edit source]

Before 1858[edit | edit source]

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

Step 1. Search Indexes[edit | edit source]

Before looking for a will, you should search a probate index. It will save time and give a reference to finding a copy of a will. A few indexes are mentioned here. Others indexes, especially if they only index the wills for one court, are mentioned on each court page.

Indexes are found in archives and in the FamilySearch Library. Click here to see a list of the library's holdings for indexes and wills. Films can be viewed in the Library or in a FamilySearch Center.

Did you find a reference to a will?

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

Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died[edit | edit source]

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 whether the place where your ancestor lived or died is a parish. To learn whether it is a parish, look it up in a gazetteer. Here is a link to the 1872 Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales online:

The gazetteer will either tell you:

  • A place is a parish, or
  • 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.

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

Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish[edit | edit source]

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 Cumberland fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Click on a link below for the letter the parish begins with.


A B-C D-H I-N O-T U-Z


Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record[edit | edit source]

Once you have found an index reference to a will or other probate record, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:

Cumberland Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Cumberland prior to 1858. Click on a court name to learn more about its records, indexes and finding a probate for your ancestor. To determine which court, go to the Court Jurisdictions section above.


Some Explanatory Notes on the Cumberland Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

The original probate records are housed in one of four record offices in the following cities: Barrow, Kendall, Carlisle, and Whitehaven. Links to these offices are found on the Cumbria Archive Service site.