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Warwickshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Warwickshire]]  
{{Warwickshire-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
| link2=[[Warwickshire, England Genealogy|Warwickshire]]
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Warwickshire_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]
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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]]  
== 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 Warwickshire. 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.


== Getting Started  ==
==== Online Records ====


Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his/her heirs.   
*'''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


In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions:
=== Before 1858  ===


#When did your ancestor die?
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Warwickshire, follow these steps:
#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 the civil government. 
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


*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. 
*Warwick persons are included in the [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury] which was the highest court in England, and the Bishop of Worcester Consistory Court, for which indexes are online for [http://books.google.com/books?id=7DUEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=related:LCCN01004246&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1%7Conline#v=onepage&q=&f=false 1451-1652].
*If you know where your ancestor lived before 1858, you should go to the '''Court Jurisdictions''' section below to determine what courts had jurisdiction over your ancestor's place of residence. 
*Beginning in 1858, probate authority was vested in the '''Principal Probate Registry''' system.  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>
Also check:


== Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==
*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} — [[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>


== Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==
Did you find a reference to a probate record?


== Court Jurisdictions  ==
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


Before 1858, every town and parish in Warwickshire was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary court.&nbsp; When looking for the will of an ancestor in Warwickshire, search the courts in the order given.&nbsp; Search indexes first.&nbsp; For indexes, click on the link for a court name above.
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


Here is a list of Warwickshire towns and parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.&nbsp; For other places, click on a letter link:&nbsp; [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with B and C|B-C]], [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with D through L|D-L]], [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with M through S|M-S]], [[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Places Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]].
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;  


<br>
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:


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="center" width="95%"
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain]
|-
! width="15%" style="background: rgb(255, 222, 173) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" | PARISH
! width="40%" style="background: rgb(255, 222, 173) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" | PRIMARY COURT
! width="40%" style="background: rgb(255, 222, 173) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
|-
| Alcester
| [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Allesley
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
The gazetteer will either tell you:
|-
| Alne, Great
| [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alveston
| Pre-1851 - [[Court of the Peculiar of Hampton Lucy]];
Post-1850 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]]


| Pre-1851
*A place is a parish, or
2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


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


Post-185
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.


2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
==== 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. Every town and parish in Warwickshire 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.
| Ansley
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
{| width="250" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
|-
|-
| Ansty
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]]
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);  
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]]
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with C|C]]  
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with D through L|D-L]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with M through P|M-P]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with Q through S|Q-S]]
| &nbsp;[[Warwickshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with T through Z|T-Z]]
|}


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
<br>
|-
| Arley
| [[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]] (Cathedral)
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory)
3 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


|-
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====
| Arrow
| [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Ashow
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[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:
|-
| Astley
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*{{FSC|480355|subject_id|disp=Warwickshire 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.
| Aston Cantlow
| [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)  
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Aston juxta Birmingham
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
== Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==
|-
| Atherstone
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
Most of Warwickshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of either the [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory)]] or the [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory)]].&nbsp; The majority of probate searches will be in the records of these two courts and their superior courts.&nbsp; However, the following smaller courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.
|-
| Atherstone on Stour
| [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)  
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Attleborough
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);  
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)]]
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
| Austrey
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Baddesley-Clinton]]
| Pre-1837 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry]] (Episcopal Consistory);
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Barston]]
Post-1836 - [[Court of the Bishop of Worcester]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Bishop's Ichington, Chadshunt and Gaydon]]  
*[[Peculiar Court of the Prebendal of Hampton-Lucy|Peculiar Court of the Prebendal of Hampton-Lucy]] with Alveston Parish and its chapelry, Charlcote, and Wasperton Parish
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Knowle]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Merevale]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Packwood]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Tachbrook]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Temple Balsall]]; also see Baddesley-Clinton
*[[Peculiar Court of the Prebend of Ufton]]  
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Stratford-upon-Avon]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
<br>
|}


<br>
== Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts  ==


== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==
*From 1837, the whole of the Warwickshire's parishes came under the probate court jurisdiction of the Bishop of Worcester
*In pre-1837 the north, east and northwestern Warwickshire parishes&nbsp;came under the&nbsp;authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lichfield.
*The rest of the&nbsp;of Warwickshire&nbsp;(south-west portion) in pre-1837 came under the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester.&nbsp;


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].  
Here's the [[List of Warwickshire Parishes|'''List of Warwickshire Parishes''']] which in pre-1837, came under&nbsp;the court jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory).<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>  
<br>


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

Latest revision as of 16:38, 19 July 2023

Warwickshire Wiki Topics
File:Flag_of_Warwickshire.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Warwickshire Background
Local Research Resources

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 Warwickshire. 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 Warwickshire, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes

Also check:

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:

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. Every town and parish in Warwickshire 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-L  M-P  Q-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:

Warwickshire Probate Courts

Most of Warwickshire was under the pre-1858 probate jurisdiction of either the Court of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory) or the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry (Episcopal Consistory).  The majority of probate searches will be in the records of these two courts and their superior courts.  However, the following smaller courts also had some pre-1858 jurisdiction within the county. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.


Some Explanatory Notes on Warwickshire Probate Courts

  • From 1837, the whole of the Warwickshire's parishes came under the probate court jurisdiction of the Bishop of Worcester
  • In pre-1837 the north, east and northwestern Warwickshire parishes came under the authority and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lichfield.
  • The rest of the of Warwickshire (south-west portion) in pre-1837 came under the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester. 

Here's the List of Warwickshire Parishes which in pre-1837, came under the court jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Bishop of Worcester (Episcopal Consistory).


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