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== 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. Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for the process (click on the link to learn more about it). For general information about | ''Probate'' is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. Before 1858, Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process. Beginning in 1858, the [[Principal Probate Registry|Principal Probate Registry]] had the authority for the process (click on the link to learn more about it). For general information about England probate records, click [[England Probate Records|here]]. | ||
Below are steps to follow to search for a pre-1858 probate record in Sussex. | |||
=== Step 1 | === Step 1. Identify when and where your ancestor died === | ||
If you know when and where your ancestor died, use that date and place to find a probate record. If you do not know, use an approximate date and the place where they lived. | If you know when and where your ancestor died, use that date and place to find a probate record. If you do not know, use an approximate date and the place where they lived. | ||
Indexes to probate records, created at the time | === Step 2. Search Indexes === | ||
Indexes to probate records, created at the time the probates were filed, exist for every Church of England court. These indexes will be listed in the Wiki articles for each court (see list of courts below). However, in more recent years, indexes have been created which have a broad coverage for either the whole county or for several courts together. Those for Sussex include the following: | |||
== Probate Indexes Online == | |||
Before looking for a will, you should search the following index: | |||
[http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/database/SussexFHGprobate.shtml] | |||
Here is an index compiled by the Sussex Family History Group which has transcribed 12,300 individuals as found in Sussex Wills, including Testators, Executors, Beneficiaries or Witnesses. The following information is recorded. | |||
*Name – Forenames and surname of individual mentioned in the will | |||
*Town location | |||
The Sussex Records Society has done a great job in putting up many of their index listings including probate. The following is the link to their publications on probate indexes. [n] <br>Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills (1384 - 1858) [n] | |||
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== Probate Indexes == | |||
The following indexes are available at the Family History Library: | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&columns=*%2C0%2C0&titleno=173636&disp=Probate+records++ Deanery Court or Peculiar Court (South Malling) Probate records, 1588-1858] The jurisdiction for this court includes the parishes of: Busted, The Cliffe or St. Thomas Lewes, Edburton, Framfield, Glynde, Isfield, Lindfield, Mayfield, Ringmer, South Malling, Stanmer, Uckfield and Wadhurst. Many of these volumes have indexes. | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=685691&disp=Probate+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Diocese of Chichester. Consistory Court (Archdeaconry of Lewes) Probate records, 1527-1858] Printed book Indexes and FHL Film 97227, 97228, 97229, 97230 and many of the films have indexes at the beginning or end. | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=82301&disp=Wills+and+administrations%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Dean of Chichester. Peculiar Court Wills and administrations, 1553-1861] Jurisdiction includes Chichester (St. Andrew, St. Bartholomew, St. Martin, St. Olave, St. Pancras, St. Peter the Great, St. Peter the Less, and the Close), New Fishbourne, and Rumboldswyke. Many of the films have an index at the beginning or end. | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=82267&disp=Wills+and+administrations%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Archbishop of Canterbury. Peculiar Court (Exempt Deaneries of Pagham and Tarring) Wills and administrations, 1520-1907] Jurisdiction includes South Bersted, Chichester (All Saints), part of Horsham, East Lavant, Pagham, Patching, Slindon, Tangmere, and West Tarring. Many of these films have an index at the beginning or end. | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=173743&disp=Probate+records%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Diocese of Chichester. Peculiar Court (Exempt Deanery of Battle) Probate records, 1531-1857] The jurisdiction for this court includes only the parish of Battle. | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=147632&disp=Transcripts+of+Sussex+wills%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Transcripts of Sussex wills as far as they relate to ecclesiological and parochial subjects, up to the year 1560]. | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=212898&disp=Calendar+of+wills+and+administrations+in%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Calendar of wills and administrations in the Archdeaconry court of Lewes in the bishopric of Chichester together with those in the Archbishop of Canterbury's Peculiar jurisdiction of South Malling and the Peculiar of the Deanery of Battle; comprising together the whole of the eastern division of the county of Sussex and the parish of Edburton in West Sussex, from the earliest extant instruments in the reign of Henry VIII to the Commonwealth [1509-1660] | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1679746&disp=v%2E+50+%281907%29%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Index to Some Wills proved and Admons Granted in the Peculiar Deanery of South Malling, 1560-1567]. Included are also an index to an additional 216 Susses Wills. The indexes comprise pages 138-152 Sussex archaeological collections - v. 50 (1907) | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=237740&disp=Calendar+of+wills+in+the+Consistory+cour%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Calendar of wills in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Chichester, 1482-1800] | |||
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=243356&disp=Calendar+of+administrations+in+the+Consi%20%20&columns=*,0,0 Calendar of administrations in the Consistory court of the Bishop of Chichester, 1555-1800: Calendar of wills and administrations in the Peculiar court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1520-1670: Calendar of Wills and administrations in the Peculiar court of the Dean of Chichester] | |||
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== Court Jurisdictions by Parish == | == Court Jurisdictions by Parish == | ||
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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. | ||
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