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


[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Stafford]]  
''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.


For a general explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here]].
=== 1858 to the Present  ===


== Getting Started  ==
Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for probating estates. Click on the link to learn more.


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


In order to find a probate record for your ancestor, you must answer two questions:
* '''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


#When did your ancestor die?
=== Before 1858  ===
#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. 
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:


*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. 
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====
*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.&nbsp; Indexes will be found on the individual court pages (when you click on a court name) or in the '''Probate Indexes''' section below.<br>
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire.  


<br>
Start with:


== Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==
*'''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 ($)
*'''1521-1860''' {{RecordSearch|3491898|England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate, 1521-1860}} at FamilySearch — [[England, Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; indexes & images; ''Also at [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/staffordshire-dioceses-of-lichfield-and-coventry-wills-and-probate-1521-1860 Findmypast], ($)'' <br>


The following probate courts&nbsp;had some jurisdiction over the county of Staffordshire prior to 1858:  
Also check:


*[[Episcopal Consistory Court of Lichfield]]  
*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]
*[[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
*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.
*[[Peculiar Court of Lichfield]]
*The Manor of Sedgley has online indexes listed under the Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgley below.
*[[Peculiar Court of the Dean of Lichfield]]
*[http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes Index of Wills at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies (downloadable PDF file)]
*[[Peculiar Court of Alrewas and Weeford]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Bishops Itchington]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Bishops Tachbrook]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Burton on Trent]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Colwich]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Eccleshall]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Manor of Gnosall]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Hansacre and Armitage]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Hartington]]
*[[Peculiar Court of High Offley anad Flixton]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Longdon]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Merevale]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Peak Forest]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Penkridge]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Prees or Pipe Manor]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Sawley]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Tettenhall]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Whittington and Baswich]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Wolverhampton]]


<br>
==== Printed Indexes  ====


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 Archbishop's court.  
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.  


=== Appeals Courts  ===
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.


There were two appeals courts within the Prerogative Court of Canterbury which heard disputes over the administration or probate of an estate. They were the:
The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>


*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=379246&disp=Records+of+the+Court+of+Arches%2C+1660%2%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Court of Arches]&nbsp;(records are at Lambeth Palace Library, London; an index from 1660-1857 was compiled by the British Record Society, vol. 85)
==== Probate Calendars  ====
*The Court of Delegates was also a court of appeal for the provinces of Canterbury and York, including their peculiars, royal peculiars, and the Irish probate courts. This court is sometimes also referred to as the High Court of Delegates (records are held at The National archives); records are on [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=379246&disp=Records+of+the+Court+of+Arches%2C+1660%2%20%20&columns=*,0,0 microfilm] (from 1662-1837) and [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=379246&disp=Records+of+the+Court+of+Arches%2C+1660%2%20%20&columns=*,0,0 microfiche] with an index, which are available at The Family History Library; ''The Genealogist'' has compiled an [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=14199&disp=The+Genealogist+%28England%29++ index] in vols. 11 and 12 covering the years from 1651-1857)


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> ==
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>  


Probate records for the&nbsp;first nine&nbsp;courts listed above are located at the Staffordshire Record Office.
<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?


Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.&nbsp; Search the [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Family History Library Catalog] for the title of the court or the court as&nbsp;an author.&nbsp; <br>
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.  
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


== Staffordshire Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions <br> ==
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


Here&nbsp;are links to&nbsp;an alphabetical&nbsp;list of Staffordshire parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each.&nbsp; To see which courts to search for probates of persons living in or owning property in particular parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with.
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;  


{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="432" border="1"
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]  
|-
| &nbsp;[[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions|A]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions, 'B' Parishes|B]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions, 'C' Parishes|C]]&nbsp;  
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-F|D-F]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'G' Parishes|G]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes H-K|H-K]]&nbsp;&nbsp;  
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'L' Parishes|L]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes M-N|M-N]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes O-R|O-R]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'S' Parishes|S]]&nbsp; &nbsp;  
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes T-V|T-V]]&nbsp;&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes W-Z|W-Z]]&nbsp;
|}


<br>
The gazetteer will either tell you:


== Probate Indexes  ==
*A place is a parish, or if not--
*What parish it is in


Before&nbsp;looking for a will, you should search an index.
&nbsp;  


=== Online Indexes  ===
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.


A general will index for the Diocese of Lichfield exists online, a scanned edition of P.W. Phillimore's publicationby 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'']''.&nbsp; ''This single index consolidates most&nbsp;Staffordshire&nbsp;wills of the various probate court jurisdictions&nbsp;from 1514-1652 for the Diocese of Lichfield and to 1790 for Staffordshire smaller peculiar courts.''&nbsp;''
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


=== Printed Indexes  ===
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.


See the above online indexes available at Google.books which is copy of a printed will index for Staffordshire.
&nbsp;


The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747 : in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>
{| width="306" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" style="width: 306px; height: 25px"
|-
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] &nbsp;
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with B|B]] &nbsp;  
| [[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]]
|}


== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==
<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].
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=authordetails&authorno=301365&name=Great+Britain%2E+Principal+Probate+Registry%2C+null&columns=*,0,0 records] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br>
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:  


<br>
*{{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.


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish ==
== Staffordshire Probate Courts ==


Before 1858, every town and parish in Staffordshire fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.&nbsp; When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given.&nbsp;For&nbsp;an authoritative treatise on&nbsp;each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes&nbsp;comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication,&nbsp;Wills and Their Whereabouts; also available at&nbsp;the Family History Library, FHL&nbsp;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].&nbsp;Search indexes first.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Search indexes first.&nbsp; For indexes, click on the court name links above.
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):


Here is a list of Staffordshire parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them.&nbsp; For other parishes, click on a letter link:&nbsp; [[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]].
*[[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]]  
<br>
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]  
 
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Alrewas and Weeford]]  
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="95%" align="center" border="1"
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Burton on Trent]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Colwich]]  
! style="background: #ffdead" width="15%" | PARISH
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Eccleshall]]  
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | PRIMARY COURT
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Gnosall]]  
! style="background: #ffdead" width="40%" | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Hansacre and Armitage]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of High Offley and Flixton]]  
| Abbots Bromley
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Longdon]]  
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)  
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Pattingham]]  
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Penkridge]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Prees or Pipe Minor]]  
| Adbaston
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgely]]  
| [[Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]  
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Tettenhall]]  
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Tyrley]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Whittington and Baswich]]  
| Acton Trussel
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Wolverhampton]]  
| [[Peculiar Court of Whittington and Baswich]]  
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|-
| Aldridge
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alrewas
| [[Peculiar Court of Alrewas and Weeford]]  
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|-
| Alstonefield
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Alton
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Armitage
| [[Peculiar Court of Hansacrea and Armitage]]  
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|-
| Ashford
| [[Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]  
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
|-
| Ashley
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Aston
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|-
| Audley
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
|}


<br>
<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

Staffordshire Wiki Topics
File:Flag_of_Staffordshire.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Staffordshire 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 Staffordshire. 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 Staffordshire, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes[edit | edit source]

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

Start with:

Also check:

Printed Indexes[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[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 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[edit | edit source]

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[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:

Staffordshire Probate Courts[edit | edit source]

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
[edit | edit source]

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. 


To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

Due to contractual agreements, some images and/or databases on FamilySearch.org may only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center or FamilySearch Affiliate Library.

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