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Staffordshire Probate Records: Difference between revisions
Staffordshire Probate Records (view source)
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== Step By Step == | == Step By Step == | ||
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.<br>2. Proceed to the "Probate Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library".<br>3. Contact or visit the Essex County Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.<br>4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp centers] near you. | 1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.<br>2. Proceed to the "Probate Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library".<br>3. Contact or visit the Essex County Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.<br>4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp centers] near you. | ||
<br>If no will is found, your ancestor may not have left one. | |||
If no will is found, your ancestor may not have left one. | |||
== Staffordshire Probate Courts == | == Staffordshire Probate Courts == | ||
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*[[High Court of Delegates|High Court of Delegates]] or sometimes known as the Court of Delegates, also heard appeals cases regarding probates and administrations. | *[[High Court of Delegates|High Court of Delegates]] or sometimes known as the Court of Delegates, also heard appeals cases regarding probates and administrations. | ||
The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court. | The [[Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury]] also served as an appeals court. | ||
== Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> | == Some Explanatory Notes on the Courts in Staffordshire<br> == | ||
Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. 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 an author. | Records and indexes for each court are also available in the collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. 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 an author. | ||
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See the above online indexes available at Google.books which is copy of a printed will index for Staffordshire. | See the above online indexes available at Google.books which is copy of a printed will index for Staffordshire. | ||
The Smethwick Local history Society has published the ''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747 : in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br> | The Smethwick Local history Society has published the ''Probate inventories of Smethwick residents, 1647-1747 : in the Lichfield Joint Record Office.''<br> | ||
==== Probate Calendars ==== | ==== Probate Calendars ==== | ||
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Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=309060&disp=Registered+wills+and+original+wills%2C+a%20%20&columns=*,0,0] These are calendars. They cover most of the county of Stafford. | Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court. [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=309060&disp=Registered+wills+and+original+wills%2C+a%20%20&columns=*,0,0] These are calendars. They cover most of the county of Stafford. | ||
== Probate Court Jurisdictions <br> | == Probate Court Jurisdictions <br> == | ||
Before 1858, most Staffordshire parishes came under the major probate court jurisdiction of the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory). A few parishes came under the jurisdiction of a smaller secondary or peculiar court. When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. For an authoritative treatise on each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, ''Wills and Their Whereabouts''; also available at the Family History Library, FHL 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]. | Before 1858, most Staffordshire parishes came under the major probate court jurisdiction of the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield (Episcopal Consistory). A few parishes came under the jurisdiction of a smaller secondary or peculiar court. When looking for the will of an ancestor, you should search the courts in the order given. For an authoritative treatise on each Staffordshire probate court and the parishes comprising them in pre-1858, see Anthony J. Camp's publication, ''Wills and Their Whereabouts''; also available at the Family History Library, FHL 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]. | ||
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To view each parish and to learn which court[s] to search first for probates of persons living in or owning property in that parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with | To view each parish and to learn which court[s] to search first for probates of persons living in or owning property in that parish, click on the letter the parish name begins with | ||
{| | {| cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" border="1" | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] | | [[Staffordshire Probate Jurisdictions for Parishes Beginning with A|A]] | ||
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|} | |} | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
== Estate Duty Records<br> | == Estate Duty Records<br> == | ||
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. Between 1813-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br> | 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. Between 1813-1858 estate duty indexes may help locate a will. For more information, go to [[Estate Duty Records]].<br> | ||
== Post-1857 Probate Records == | == Post-1857 Probate Records == | ||
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Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system. The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London. The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service. To learn more, go to the [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm HMCS website]. | Beginning in 1858, the government took over the settlement of estates and all wills are now probated through the Principal Probate Registry system. The system consists of 11 district registry offices and 18 sub-district registries, located throughout England and Wales, and the principal registry office located in London. The records are available through the office of Her Majesty's Courts Service. To learn more, go to the [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/civil/probate/index.htm HMCS website]. | ||
A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills. 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.+Principal+Probate+Registry&columns=*,0,0 records] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br> | A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills. 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.+Principal+Probate+Registry&columns=*,0,0 records] for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.<br> | ||
{{Place|Staffordshire}} | {{Place|Staffordshire}} | ||
[[Category:Staffordshire]] [[Category:Probate_records_in_England]] | [[Category:Staffordshire]] [[Category:Probate_records_in_England]] | ||