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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Cambridgeshire]]''
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== 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 Cambridgeshire. 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 ====


The following article is about probate records in the county of Cambridgeshire. For general information about English probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]].  
*'''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
*'''1858-1995''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1904/ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995] at Ancestry
*'''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


== Description ==
=== Before 1858 ===


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


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''' section below has a link to an article about probates after 1857.  
==== Step 1. Search Indexes  ====


== Getting Started  ==
Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Cambridgeshire. Search this index first:


Follow these steps to look for a probate record before 1858:<br>
*Archdeaconry of Ely Probate Records 1513-1857.  Online at: [https://archive.org/details/indexofprobatere0000thur Internet Archive], [https://www.findmypast.com/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/cambridgeshire/archdeaconry-of-ely-probate-records-1513-1857--introduction-to-original-volume Findmypast] ($).
*Consistory Court of Ely Probate Records 1449-1858. Online at: [https://www.findmypast.com/articles/england-and-wales-published-wills-and-probate-indexes-1300-1858-volumes-available/cambridgeshire/consistory-court-of-ely-probate-records-1449-1858-introduction-to-original-volume Findmypast] ($).
*[https://www.chfhs.org.uk/search-the-database Cambridgeshire Wills Surname Index pre-1858.]  Established by the Cambridgeshire Family History Society, this index is small but is growing. Contributions are welcome. (use drop down menu to find wills)


#Discover when and where your ancestor died. If you don’t know, use the approximate date and place where they lived. <br>
See other indexes on the court pages. Click on a court name link in the Cambridgeshire Probate Courts section above.<br>  
#Go to the Court Jurisdictions by Parish&nbsp;section below.<br>
#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>
#Follow the steps at the top of the table to search for a will.<br>


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


== Court Jurisdictions by Parish<br> ==
*If ''yes'', go to '''Step 4''' below.
*If ''no'', go to '''Step 2''' below.


Before 1858, probate of the estates of deceased persons was handled by eccelesiastical courts of the Church of England.&nbsp; Every parish was under the jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts.
==== Step 2. Identify when and where your ancestor died  ====


{| style="width: 369px; height: 30px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0"
Determine ''when'' your ancestor died. If you aren't sure, use an approximate date.
|-
| &nbsp;&nbsp;
| [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_A-B A-B]
| [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_C C]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_D-G D-G]
| [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_H-L H-L]
| [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_M-R M-R]&nbsp;
| [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_S-Z S-Z]
|}


<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:


== Cambridgeshire Probate Courts  ==
*[https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/ Vision of Britain]


Here is a list of the ecclesiastical courts that had some pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over the parishes of Cambridgeshire. &nbsp;Click on a court name for more information.&nbsp; Also see the Indexes section below.&nbsp;
The gazetteer will either tell you:


*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Ely]] (Diocese of Ely)
*A place is a parish, or
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk]] (Diocese of Norwich)
*What parish it is a part of, or
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury]] (Diocese of Norwich)
*What place it is near.
*[[Court of the Bishop of Ely]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Court of the Bishop of Norwich]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester]]
*[[Court of the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Isleham and Freckenham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of King's College]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Thorney]]


In addition, the [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] had jurisdiction over the whole of England and specifically in the following cases.<br>
If the latter, look that place up in the gazetteer and see if it is a parish.  


*Wealthy individuals<br>
Once you have identified the parish, go to '''Step 3'''.  
*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 ===
==== Step 3. Identify court jurisdictions by parish ====


Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:  
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 Cambridgeshire 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:  


*[[Court of Arches]]
<br>
*[[High Court of Delegates]]


The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court.<br>
{| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" style="width: 369px; height: 30px" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
|-
|   
| [[Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_A-B|A-B]]  
| [[Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_C|C]] 
| [[Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_D-G|D-G]]
| [[Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_H-L|H-L]]
| [[Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_M-R|M-R]] 
| [[Cambridgeshire_Probate_Jurisdictions,_Parishes_S-Z|S-Z]]
|}


== Probate Indexes Online  ==
<br>


Before looking for a will, you should search an index. One to search is:
==== Step 4. Obtain a copy of the probate record  ====


*[http://www.cfhs.org.uk/camwisdex.html Cambridgeshire Wills Surname Index pre-1858].&nbsp; Established by the Cambridgeshire Family History Society, this index is small but is growing. Contributions are welcome.
Once you have found an index reference to a probate, obtain a copy of the record. Do so by one of these methods:


See other indexes on the court pages.&nbsp; Click on a court name link in the Cambridgeshire Probate Courts section above.<br>
*{{FSC|342141|subject_id|disp=Cambridgeshire 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.


== Estate Duty Records<br> ==
== Cambridgeshire Probate Courts  ==


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. Estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br>
Here is a list of the ecclesiastical courts that had some pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over the parishes of Cambridgeshire. Click on a court name for more information. Also see the Indexes section below. 


== &nbsp;Probates After 1857  ==
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Ely]] (Diocese of Ely)
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk]] (Diocese of Norwich)
*[[Court of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury]] (Diocese of Norwich)
*[[Court of the Bishop of Ely (Episcopal Consistory)|Court of the Bishop of Ely]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Court of the Bishop of Norwich]] (Episcopal Consistory)
*[[Courts of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) and Archdeaconry of Rochester]]
*[[Court of the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of Isleham and Freckenham]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar of King's College]]
*[[Court of the Peculiar Parish of Thorney]]
*[[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] &gt;


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>
{{Place|Cambridgeshire|Probate}}
{{England Probate Records}}


[[Category:Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Cambridgeshire Probate Records]]

Latest revision as of 12:20, 14 March 2024

Cambridgeshire Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
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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 Cambridgeshire. 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 Cambridgeshire, follow these steps:

Step 1. Search Indexes

Here are some online indexes to probate records that include individuals who lived in Cambridgeshire. Search this index first:

See other indexes on the court pages. Click on a court name link in the Cambridgeshire Probate Courts section 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 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 Cambridgeshire 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-G H-L M-R S-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:

Cambridgeshire Probate Courts

Here is a list of the ecclesiastical courts that had some pre-1858 probate jurisdiction over the parishes of Cambridgeshire. Click on a court name for more information. Also see the Indexes section below.

v • d• e
Links to Cambridgeshire-related articles


v • d• e
England Probate Records by county
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