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[[England|<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1261522788618_143" />England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Essex]]  
{{Essex-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
 
| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
The following article is about probate records in the county of Essex. For general information about English probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].<br>
| link2=[[Essex, England Genealogy|Essex]]
 
| link3=
== Description ==
| link4=
| link5=[[Essex_Probate_Records|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. The term ''probate'' refers to a collection of documents, including [[W genealogical glossary terms|wills]], [[A genealogical glossary terms|administrations]] (also called admons), [[I genealogical glossary terms|inventories]], and [[A genealogical glossary terms|act books]]. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.  
''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 Essex. See [[England Probate Records]] for a general description of probate records in England.  


Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry. The '''Probates After 1857'''&nbsp;section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.
=== 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.


Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858:<br>
==== Online Records ====


#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br>
*'''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
#Go to the Court Jurisdictions section below.<br>
*'''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904/ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry
#Click a letter or span of letters for your place. This opens an article showing a table of places and the courts that had jurisdiction over them.<br>
*'''1858-2019''' [https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/england-and-wales-government-probate-death-index-1858-2019 England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019] at Findmypast
#Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.<br>


''[[England]]&nbsp;[[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Essex|Essex]]&nbsp;[[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Essex Probate Records|Essex Probate Records]]'' <br>
=== Before 1858  ===


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish<br> ==
Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. To search for a pre-1858 probate record in Essex, follow these steps:


Here&nbsp;are links to&nbsp;an alphabetical&nbsp;list of Essex 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.  
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


Below is a list of Essex parishes beginning with the letter 'B' and the ecclesiastical courts with pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over them.&nbsp; Once you have identified a court of interest, search [[Essex Probate Records|indexes]].&nbsp; Search the courts in the order given.&nbsp; Click on a court name for more information about the court.
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Essex. Search these indexes first:


To see a list of&nbsp;Essex parishes, click on a letter link:
County-wide general will indexes for Essex County are now available online, making Essex County one of the foremost in facilitating probate research in  England. 


{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="469" border="1"
The following sites index significant portions of Essex wills:
|-
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions|A]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'B' Parishes|B&nbsp;]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'C' Parishes|C]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-F|D-F]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'G' Parishes|G&nbsp;]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes H-K|H-K]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'L' Parishes|L]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes M-N|M-N]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes O-R|O-R]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'S' Parishes|S]]&nbsp;
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes T-V|T-V]]
| &nbsp;[[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes W-Z|W-Z]]
|}


== Essex Probate Courts  ==
*Essex County Record Office's outstanding wills index from [https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/] consolidates into one single index, the county's wills. Images have been uploaded up to 1720.<ref>'Where there's a will: major update to Essex Ancestors,' ''Essex Record Office Blog,'' 30 October 2014, http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/where-theres-a-will-major-update-to-essex-ancestors/.</ref>
*[https://www.findmypast.com/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/essex Wills at Chelmsford, 1400-1858] at Findmypast ($).
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/essex-wills-beneficiaries-index-1675-1858 Essex Wills Beneficiaries Index, 1675-1858] at Findmypast ($).


The following&nbsp;ecclesiastical courts&nbsp;had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Essex prior to 1858.&nbsp;&nbsp;Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.&nbsp;
The Essex County Record Office previously compiled and published a complete name index covering wills and administrations from the '''''first eight'' '''Essex County probate court jurisdictions listed above (through the Liberty of Sokens). The index is available in three volumes online through the National Wills Index and in book form at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City:


*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex]]
*Emmison, F. G., ed.  ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford 1400-1858''.  3 vols. London: s.n., 1961, by the British Record Society. Digital versions online at [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ National Wills Index] ($); {{FSC|247479|title-id|disp=FS Library Book 942 B4b v. 78, 79, 84; microfilms 0962739 and 0962740; microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802}}.
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester]]
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of London (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Good Easter]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Writtle with Roxwell]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Deanery of Bocking]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Liberty of the Sokens]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Havering-atte-Bower]] (or Hornchurch)
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral]]


In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br>
*Transcriptions of Essex wills from various probate court jurisdictions at <br>[http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm].


*Wealthy individuals<br>
Always re-visit these websites as new, updated data may periodically be posted online.  
*Interregnum, 1649-1660, because the Prerogative Court was the only court.
*Property in more than one diocese in the Province of Canterbury.
*Property in both the Province of Canterbury and Province of York.
*People who died outside England, including British citizens and others who held property in England.


=== Appeals Courts  ===
If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors, look in the '''published indexes '''listed here.


Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:
Other printed indexes are found listed on the court pages.  '''Click on the court name links above.'''


*[[Court of Arches]]
Did you find a reference to a probate record?
*[[High Court of Delegates]]


The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court.
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


== Probate Indexes ==
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died ====


Before looking for a will, you should search an index.  
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.


=== Online Indexes  ===
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 are two outstanding topographical dictionaries online:


County-wide&nbsp;general will indexes for Essex County are now available online, making Essex County one of the foremost in facilitating probate research in&nbsp; England.&nbsp;
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/index.jsp Vision of Britain] - the 1870 Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales online  
*[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=445 British-History] - has Lewis' ''Topographical Dictionary of England''


The following two online sites&nbsp;contain significant portions of&nbsp;Essex wills:  
These gazetteers will either tell you:  


*These&nbsp;indexes overall,&nbsp;are transcriptions to most&nbsp;Essex county wills of the various probate court jurisdictions&nbsp;at
*A place is a parish, or
*What parish it is a part of, or
*What place it is near.


[http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm http://linux02.lib.cam.ac.uk/earlscolne/probate/index.htm]
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.  


*Essex County Record Office's outstanding wills index from [http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/default.asp early to 1857]&nbsp;consolidates into one&nbsp;single index, the&nbsp;county's&nbsp;wills.
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.  


Always re-visit these websites as&nbsp;new, updated data may periodically be posted online.  
==== 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. Then search indexes for those courts. Every town and parish in Sussex fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Here are links to an alphabetical list of Essex parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each. 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.


If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors,&nbsp;look in the '''published indexes '''listed here.
{| border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="469"
|-
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions|A]] 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'B' Parishes|B ]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'C' Parishes|C]] 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes D-F|D-F]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'G' Parishes|G ]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes H-K|H-K]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'L' Parishes|L]] 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes M-N|M-N]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes O-R|O-R]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, 'S' Parishes|S]] 
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes T-V|T-V]]
|  [[Essex Probate Jurisdictions, Parishes W-Z|W-Z]]
|}


The Essex County Record Office compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from&nbsp;the '''''first&nbsp;eight'' '''Essex County probate court jurisdictions listed above (through the Liberty of Sokens).&nbsp; The index is available in three volumns at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City:
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


*Emmison, F. G., ed.&nbsp; ''[Index to] Wills at Chelmsford''.&nbsp; London: s.n., 1961,&nbsp;by the British Record Society.&nbsp; (FHL book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=247479&disp=Wills+at+Chelmsford+%28Essex+and+East+He%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 B4b] vols. 78, 79 &amp; 84; also on microfilms 0962739 and 0962740, and on microfiche 6073796, 6073797, and 6073802.)
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:  


Other printed indexes&nbsp;are found listed on the court pages.&nbsp; '''Click on the court name links above.'''
*{{FSC|358118|subject_id|disp=Essex 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.


== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Essex<br> ==
== Essex Probate Courts ==


Probate records for the&nbsp;first eight&nbsp;courts listed above are located at the [http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/guc.jsp?channelOid=13813&guideOid=14783&guideContentOid=14819 Essex Record Office]. The additional four courts' records are located in Greater London-based record offices (click links to view).  
The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Essex prior to 1858. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.


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>
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex]]
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Colchester]]
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Bishop of London (Episcopal Consistory)]]
*[[Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (Essex & Hertfordshire Division)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Good Easter]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Writtle with Roxwell]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Deanery of Bocking]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Liberty of the Sokens]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Havering-atte-Bower]] (or Hornchurch)
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]]


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


== Estate Duty Records<br> ==
Probate records for the first eight courts listed above are located at the [https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate Essex Record Office]. The additional four courts' records are located in Greater London-based record offices (click links to view).


Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere.&nbsp; Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br>
Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Search the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog ]for the title of the court or the court as an author. <br>


== Probates After 1857  ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}


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. For more information, go to [[Principal Probate Registry]].<br>
{{Essex}


[[Category:Essex]]
[[Category:Essex Probate Records]]

Latest revision as of 10:18, 21 May 2024

Essex Wiki Topics
File:Flag_of_Essex.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Essex 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 Essex. 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 Essex, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes

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

County-wide general will indexes for Essex County are now available online, making Essex County one of the foremost in facilitating probate research in England.

The following sites index significant portions of Essex wills:

The Essex County Record Office previously compiled and published a complete name index covering wills and administrations from the first eight Essex County probate court jurisdictions listed above (through the Liberty of Sokens). The index is available in three volumes online through the National Wills Index and in book form at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City:

Always re-visit these websites as new, updated data may periodically be posted online.

If the indexes on the Internet do not produce possible wills for your ancestors, look in the published indexes listed here.

Other printed indexes are found listed on the court pages. Click on the court name links above.

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 are two outstanding topographical dictionaries online:

These gazetteers 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 Sussex fell under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. Here are links to an alphabetical list of Essex parishes containing a prioritized list of courts with jurisdiction over each. 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.

A B C D-F G H-K L M-N O-R S T-V W-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:

Essex Probate Courts

The following ecclesiastical courts had some probate jurisdiction over the county of Essex prior to 1858. Click on a court name to learn about records and indexes.

Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Essex

Probate records for the first eight courts listed above are located at the Essex Record Office. The additional four courts' records are located in Greater London-based record offices (click links to view).

Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Search the FamilySearch Catalog for the title of the court or the court as an author.

References

  1. ↑ 'Where there's a will: major update to Essex Ancestors,' Essex Record Office Blog, 30 October 2014, http://www.essexrecordofficeblog.co.uk/where-theres-a-will-major-update-to-essex-ancestors/.

{{Essex}

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