Staffordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Stafford]]  
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For an explanation of probate records in England, click [[England Probate Records|here.]] [Page is under Construction]
== 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 Staffordshire. 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 ====


''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The Post-1857 Probate Records section below contains links to additional information about the records of this court.
* '''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


To look for a probate record before 1858:<br>
=== Before 1858 ===


#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br>
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:
#Go to [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Staffordshire_Probate_Records#Court_Jurisdictions Court Jurisdictions] section below.<br>
#Click a letter or span of letters for your place name. This opens a jurisdictions table.<br>
#Follow the instructions on the jurisdictions table page.<br>


== Staffordshire Probate Courts ==
==== Step 1. Search Indexes ====


The following probate courts&nbsp;had some jurisdiction over the county of Staffordshire prior to 1858:
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Staffordshire.


*[[Episcopal Consistory Court of Lichfield]]
Start with:
*[[Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield]]
*[[Peculiar Court of Lichfield]]
*[[Peculiar Court of the Dean of Lichfield]]
*[[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>  
*'''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>


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.
Also check:


=== Appeals Courts ===
*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]
*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.
*The Manor of Sedgley has online indexes listed under the Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgley below.
*[http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/resources/indexes Index of Wills at Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies (downloadable PDF file)]


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:
==== Printed Indexes  ====


*[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)
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.  
*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>  ==
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.


Probate records for the&nbsp;first nine&nbsp;courts listed above are located at the Staffordshire Record Office.  
The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>


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>
==== Probate Calendars  ====


== Staffordshire Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions <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>  


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.
<br>Did you find a reference to a probate record?


{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1" width="432" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
|-
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.
| &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>
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


== Probate Indexes  ==
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died.&nbsp;If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.&nbsp;


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


=== Online Indexes  ===
The gazetteer will either tell you:


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;''
*A place is a parish, or if not--
*What parish it is in


=== Printed Indexes  ===
&nbsp;


See the above online indexes available at Google.books which is copy of a printed will index for Staffordshire.  
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.  


The Smethwick Local history Society has published the&nbsp;''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747&nbsp;: in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br>
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish  ====


== Post-1857 Probate Records  ==
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.


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].
&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 [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>
{| 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]]
|}


<br>  
<br>  


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish ==
==== 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:


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.  
*{{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.


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]].
== Staffordshire Probate Courts  ==


<br>
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):


{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" align="center" width="95%"
*[[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]]  
! 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
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]  
! 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
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Alrewas and Weeford]]  
! 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
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Burton on Trent]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Colwich]]  
| Abbots Bromley
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Eccleshall]]  
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)  
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Gnosall]]  
| 2 - [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Hansacre and Armitage]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of High Offley and Flixton]]  
| Adbaston
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Longdon]]  
| [[Peculiar of the Dean of Lichfield]]  
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Pattingham]]  
| 2 - [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Penkridge]]  
|-
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Prees or Pipe Minor]]  
| Acton Trussel
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Manor of Sedgely]]  
| [[Peculiar Court of Whittington and Baswich]]  
*[[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]]  
| Aldridge
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Wolverhampton]]  
| [[Court of the Bishop of Lichfield]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]
| 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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