Buckinghamshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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Probate Records

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 Buckinghamshire. 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

1858-1957 England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Before 1858

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

Step 1. Search Indexes

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

Between 1483-1858, the Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham proved over 35,000 wills of ordinary people of Buckinghamshire. The Volumes of wills registered in the court of the Archdeacon of Buckingham, 1483-1858 at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies contains an online index. Click on Details next to each entry to view index.
The Buckinghamshire Family History Society has created an online searchable will index.
Buckinghamshire Probate Records 1483-1660 and Buckinghamshire Peculiars 1420-1660 at Findmypast ($).

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 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:

Vision of Britain

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

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.

Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Most of Buckinghamshire was under the primary jurisdiction of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham, hence the majority of genealogical searches will be in the records of that court and its superior (or secondary) courts. Click on the court name link in the previous sentence to learn about the records.

For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes that were exceptions to the above, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click here. The list of courts is also listed below in the Buckinghamshire Probate Courts.

Always search indexes first. To see a list of indexes, click on a court name or go to the Search Indexes section above.

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:

Buckinghamshire England Probate Records(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - some images may only be available at a FamilySearch Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.
Visit or contact the record office that has the original records in its collection.

Buckinghamshire Probate Courts

Most of Buckinghamshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[England]]&nbsp;[[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Buckinghamshire]]
+{{Buckinghamshire-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
+| link2=[[Buckinghamshire, England Genealogy|Buckinghamshire]]
+| link3=
+| link4=
+| link5=[[Buckinghamshire_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
+}}
-For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]
+== 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 Buckinghamshire. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.
+=== 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.
+==== Online Records ====
+*'''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
+=== Before 1858  ===
-Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her&nbsp;heirs.&nbsp;
+Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Buckinghamshire, follow these steps:
-In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions:
+==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
-#When did your ancestor die?
+Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Buckinghamshire. Search these indexes first:
-#Where did your ancestor live or own property?
-A key date is 1858, when probate authority was taken from the ecclesiatical courts of the Church of England and given to&nbsp;the civil government.&nbsp;
+*Between 1483-1858, the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]] proved over 35,000 wills of ordinary people of Buckinghamshire. The [https://archives.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/records/D-A/WE Volumes of wills registered in the court of the Archdeacon of Buckingham, 1483-1858] at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies contains an online index. Click on ''Details'' next to each entry to view index.
+*The Buckinghamshire Family History Society has created an online searchable [https://www.bucksfhs.org.uk/index.php/database-searches/family-history-news/25-other-bucks-news/384-bucks-wills-index-on-line will index].
+*[https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/buckinghamshire/buckinghamshire-probate-records-1483-1660-and-buckinghamshire-peculiars-1420-1660-original-introduction Buckinghamshire Probate Records 1483-1660 and Buckinghamshire Peculiars 1420-1660] at Findmypast ($).
-*If your ancestor died before 1858, his/her probate would have been proven by an ecclesiatical court and it is important to know where he/she lived, as that will determine which courts had jurisdiction.&nbsp;
+Did you find a reference to a probate record?
-*If you know where your ancestor lived before 1858, you should go to the '''Court Jurisdictions'''&nbsp;section below&nbsp;to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence.&nbsp;
-*Beginning in 1858, probate authority was&nbsp;vested in&nbsp;the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system.&nbsp; For more information, scroll to the '''Post-1857 Probate Records''' section at the bottom of the page.
-Once you have answered the two questions and determined the courts, look for indexes. Indexes will be found on the individual court pages (when you click on a court name) or in the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.<br><br>
+*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
+*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
-== Buckinghamshire Probate Courts  ==
+==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====
-The following courts had some jurisdiction over Buckinghamshire before 1858:
+Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.
-*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln|Court of the Bishop of Lincoln]] (Episcopal Consistory) -- Archdeaconry of Buckingham
+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:
-*[[Court of the Bishop of London]] (Episcopal Consistory) -- Archdeaconry of St. Albans
-*[[Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford]] (Episcopal Consistory)
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Provost of Eton]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of Buckingham]]
-*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
-In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England. Wealthier individuals, people who owned property in more than one county or lower court's jurisdiction, and naval personnel often had their estates proven through the Archibishop's court.&nbsp;
+*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
-=== Appeals Courts  ===
+The gazetteer will either tell you:
-Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could go to these high appeals courts:
+*A place is a parish, or
+*What parish it is a part of, or
+*What place it is near.
-*[[Court of Arches]]
+If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.
-*[[High Court of Delegates]]
-The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] could also serve as an appeals court.
+Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.
-== Some Explanatory Notes About Buckinghamshire Probate Courts  ==
+==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====
-== Court Jurisdictions  ==
+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.
-Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.&nbsp; If you are looking for the probate or will of an ancestor in Buckinghamshire, look for the name of the&nbsp;parish in which your ancestor lived or owned property.&nbsp; Search the courts in the order given.&nbsp; Search indexes first.&nbsp; To see a list of indexes, click on a court name or go to the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.
+<br>Before 1858, every town and parish in Buckinghamshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Most of Buckinghamshire was under the primary jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham|Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]], hence the majority of genealogical searches will be in the records of that court and its superior (or secondary) courts. Click on the court name link in the previous sentence to learn about the records.
-For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes and the pre-1858 courts that had jurisdiction over them, click on a letter link:
+For a list of Buckinghamshire parishes that were ''exceptions'' to the above, and the courts that had jurisdiction over them, click [[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions|'''here''']]. The list of courts is also listed below in the '''Buckinghamshire Probate Courts.'''
-[[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions Parishes B-C|B-C]],&nbsp;[[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-G|D-G]],&nbsp;[[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes H-J|H-J]], [[Buckingham Probate, Parishes K-P|K-P]],&nbsp;[[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes Q-T|Q-T]], [[Buckinghamshire Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes U-Z|U-Z]]. <br> <br>
+Always search indexes first. To see a list of indexes, click on a court name or go to the '''Search Indexes '''section above'''.'''
-== Probate Indexes Online  ==
+==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
-Before looking for a will, you should search an index.<br>
+Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:
-[http://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms/wills/search.aspx http://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms/wills/search.aspx]
+*{{FSC|374308|subject_id|disp=Buckinghamshire 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.
+<br>
-Wills database<br>Between 1483-1858, the Archdeaconry of Buckingham court proved over 35,000 wills of ordinary people of Buckinghamshire. This is an index of those wills held at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies. The index includes wills and some administrations of people who may have died without leaving a will (administrations not complete).&nbsp;<br>
+== Buckinghamshire Probate Courts  ==
-== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==
+Most of Buckinghamshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of the [[Court of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham]]. However, the following courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.
-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].
+*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of St. Albans]]
+*[[Court of the Bishop of Lincoln (Episcopal Consistory)]]
+*[[Court of the Bishop of London]] (Episcopal Consistory)
+*[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Oxford|Courts of the Bishop and Archdeaconry of Oxford (Episcopal Consistory)]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln|Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of Aylesbury]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of Banbury]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of Bierton]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of Buckingham]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of Monks Risborough]]
+*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Provost of Eton]]
+*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] .
-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 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|Buckinghamshire|Probate}}
+{{England Probate Records}}
-[[Category:England|England]]
+[[Category:Buckinghamshire Probate Records]]