Yorkshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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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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== Yorkshire Probate Courts  ==


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Yorkshire Probate Courts ==
== Getting Started ==


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish  ==
''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 Yorkshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.


Before 1858, every town and parish in Yorkshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.  For an authoritative treatise on each Yorkshire 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 [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]. 
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


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 [soon to be constructed].  
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 Yorkshire 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:  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D|D]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with E and F|E-F]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with G|G]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H|H]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with I through K|I-K]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with L|L]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M and N|M-N]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with O through P|O-P]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Q and R|Q-R]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with S|S]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T and U|T-U]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with W|W]], [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Y|Y]].
==== 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
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Aberford
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Acaster Malbis
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Yorkshire, follow these steps:


|-
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
| Acaster Selby
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Yorkshire. Search these indexes first:


|-
*[[Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York|'''Prerogative Court of York''']]
| Acklam, East
*'''York Peculiars Probate Index''' covers over 25,000 wills proved in the fifty-four peculiar courts of the Province of York in the five-hundred year period from 1383 to 1883. Available at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/york-peculiars-probate-index-1383-1883?_ga=1.19087288.141134231.1415381737 Findmypast (£)]. See Step 3 below to identify if the parish you're researching was in a peculiar court.
| Court of the Peculiar of the Chancellor of York with the Prebendal Jurisdiction of Laughton en le Morthen
*[https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/#ProbateRecords Colin Blanshard Withers] has produced a list of all known Indexes and Calendars relating to Yorkshire Probate. This is available in both Microsoft Word format (.doc) and plain text format (.txt) from his site.
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of york  
3 - Exhequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York


4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
Did you find a reference to a probate record?


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


|-
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
| Acklam, West
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date. 
 
|-
| Ackworth
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
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:


|-
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/ Vision of Britain]
| Acomb
| Court of the Peculiar of Acomb
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of york
3 - Exhequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York


4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
The gazetteer will either tell you:


5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
*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.
| Addingham
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.


|-
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
| Adel
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York


4 - 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 Yorkshire 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.


{| width="444" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 444px; height: 66px;"
|-
|-
| Adlingfleet
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]]
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]   
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with F|F]]
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
|  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Ho-Hy|Ho-Hy]]
 
|    [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with L|L]]
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
|    [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with N|N]]
 
|  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with S|Sa-Sk]]
|  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with W|Wa-We]]
|-
|-
| Adwick le Street
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|Ba-Bl]]
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D|D]]
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
|    [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with G|G]]
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
|    [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with I|I]]
 
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Ma through Me|Ma-Me]]
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
|  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with O through P|O-P]]
 
|  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Sl through Sy|Sl-Sy]]
|  [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Wh through Wy|Wh-Wy]]
|-
|-
| Adwick upon Dearne
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Bo through By|Bo-By]]
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with E|E]]
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with H|Ha-Hi]]
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with K|K]]
 
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Mi through My|Mi-My]]
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Q and R|Q-R]]
 
| [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T and U|T-U]]
|-
|   [[Yorkshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Y|Y]]
| Ainderby Steeple
|}
| Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Airmyn
| Court of the Peculiar of Snaith
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Aislaby
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Aldborough
| Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Prerogative court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Aldbrough
| Court of the Peculiar of Aldbrough;
Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
| Court of the Peculiar of Aldbrough
2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
 
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Aldfield with Studley
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Allerton Mauleverer
| Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Boroughbridge
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Allerton, Chapel
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Almondbury
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Alne with Aldwark
| Court of the Peculiar of Alne and Tollerton
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Alverthorpe
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Amotherby
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Ampleforth
| Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Ampleforth
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Anston cum Membris
| Court of the Peculiar of the Chancellor of York with the Prebendal Jurisdiction of Laughton en le Morthen
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of york
3 - Exhequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Appleton le Street
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Appleton Wiske
| Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Arden
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Ardsley
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Ardsley East
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Ardsley West
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury


|-
<br>
| Arkendale
| Court of the Peculiar of the Honour of Knaresborough
| 2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York


4 - Court of the Chancery 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 probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


|-
*{{FSC|330753|subject_id|disp=Yorkshire 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>
| Arkengarthdale
*Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.
| Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Arkengarthdale with New Forest and Hope;
Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond
 
| Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Arkengarthdale with New Forest and Hope
2 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
3 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Richmond
 
2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
 
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Arksey
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Armitage Bridge
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Armley
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Armthorpe
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Arncliffe
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Askham Bryan
| Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Askham Bryan
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Askham Richard
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Askrigg
| Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Catterick
| .
|-
| Aston cum Aughton
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Attercliffe
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Atwick
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Auburn
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Aughton
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Austerfield
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham
| .
|-
| Austwick
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Aysgarth
| Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Commissary of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Eastern Deaneries - Catterick
| 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
 
5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|-
| Ayton, Great
| Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
| 2 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York
 
4 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury
 
|}


== Probate Indexes Online ==
== Yorkshire Probate Courts ==


Before looking for a will, you should search an index. <br>[http://www.uclan.ac.uk/ahss/education_social_sciences/history/probate_index.php http://www.uclan.ac.uk/ahss/education_social_sciences/history/probate_index.php]
Yorkshire is the largest county in England and has more than 1,000 parishes. More than [[Yorkshire Probate Courts|'''''60 Courts''''']] had jurisdiction over Yorkshire before 1858 (click [[Yorkshire Probate Courts|'''here''']] to read about them).  


An index of wills and related documents covering Lancashire north of the Ribble, and parts of Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire, 1748-1858.
==== Some Explanatory Notes on the Yorkshire Probate Courts  ====


An index of all surviving probate documents for the Western Deaneries of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, 1748-1858 has been prepared. The deaneries included are Amounderness, Copeland, Furness, Kendal and Lonsdale. <br><br>
When an estate was solely within the Diocese (excluding Peculiars) it was usual for the local Rural Dean, acting by commission from the Exchequer Court of York, to make the grant of probate or administration. The records were then returned to the Exchequer Court and filed; separate Act Books being kept for each deanery. When an estate was solely within the Diocese of Richmond (excluding Peculiars) the same procedure took place; the deans acting by commission from the Commissary of the Archdeaconry returned the Eastern Deanery records to Richmond and the Western Deanery records to Lancaster. There are, however, some Western Deanery grants at Richmond, as all grants passed by decree of the Court anywhere within the Archdeaconry were returned there.<ref>Camp, Anthony J. Wills and Their Whereabouts. London: published by author, 1974; page 152. Punctuation revised.</ref><br>  


== Post-1857 Probate Records ==
It should be remembered that abstracts of the relevant parts of wills affecting real estate in Yorkshire are recorded from 1704 onwards at the Registry of Deeds for the appropriate Riding: at Wakefield for the West Riding, at Beverley for the East Riding, and at Northallerton for the North Riding.<ref>Camp, Anthony J. Wills and Their Whereabouts. London: published by author, 1974; page 153. Punctuation revised.</ref>


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].
<br>


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>
{{Reflist}}


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

Latest revision as of 10:48, 21 May 2024

Yorkshire Wiki Topics
File:Flag_of_Yorkshire.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Yorkshire Background
Local Research Resources


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 Yorkshire. 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 Yorkshire, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes[edit | edit source]

Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Yorkshire. Search these indexes first:

  • Prerogative Court of York
  • York Peculiars Probate Index covers over 25,000 wills proved in the fifty-four peculiar courts of the Province of York in the five-hundred year period from 1383 to 1883. Available at Findmypast (£). See Step 3 below to identify if the parish you're researching was in a peculiar court.
  • Colin Blanshard Withers has produced a list of all known Indexes and Calendars relating to Yorkshire Probate. This is available in both Microsoft Word format (.doc) and plain text format (.txt) from his site.

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[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 Yorkshire 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 C F Ho-Hy L N Sa-Sk Wa-We
Ba-Bl D G I Ma-Me O-P Sl-Sy Wh-Wy
Bo-By E Ha-Hi K Mi-My Q-R T-U Y


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

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

Yorkshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

Yorkshire is the largest county in England and has more than 1,000 parishes. More than 60 Courts had jurisdiction over Yorkshire before 1858 (click here to read about them).

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

When an estate was solely within the Diocese (excluding Peculiars) it was usual for the local Rural Dean, acting by commission from the Exchequer Court of York, to make the grant of probate or administration. The records were then returned to the Exchequer Court and filed; separate Act Books being kept for each deanery. When an estate was solely within the Diocese of Richmond (excluding Peculiars) the same procedure took place; the deans acting by commission from the Commissary of the Archdeaconry returned the Eastern Deanery records to Richmond and the Western Deanery records to Lancaster. There are, however, some Western Deanery grants at Richmond, as all grants passed by decree of the Court anywhere within the Archdeaconry were returned there.[1]

It should be remembered that abstracts of the relevant parts of wills affecting real estate in Yorkshire are recorded from 1704 onwards at the Registry of Deeds for the appropriate Riding: at Wakefield for the West Riding, at Beverley for the East Riding, and at Northallerton for the North Riding.[2]



  1. ↑ Camp, Anthony J. Wills and Their Whereabouts. London: published by author, 1974; page 152. Punctuation revised.
  2. ↑ Camp, Anthony J. Wills and Their Whereabouts. London: published by author, 1974; page 153. Punctuation revised.

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