Northumberland Probate Records
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Northumberland Probate Courts
Some Explanatory Notes on the Northumberland Probate Courts
Court Jurisdictions
Before 1858, every town and parish in Northumberland was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and several secondary courts. When looking for the will of an ancestor, search the courts in the order given. Search indexes first. For indexes, click on the court name links above.
Here is a list of Northumberland parishes beginning with the letter A and the pre-1858 ecclesiastical courts that jurisdiction over them. For other parishes, click on a letter link:
| PARISH | PRIMARY COURT | SECONDARY COURTS - IN SEARCH ORDER |
|---|---|---|
| Allen, West | Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire | 2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 6 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Allendale | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Allendale St Peter | Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of York in Hexham and Hexhamshire | 2 - Court of the Chancery of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) 4 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York 5 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 6 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alnham | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alnmouth | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alnwick | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alnwick St Paul | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Alwinton with Holystone | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
| Ancroft | Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory) | 2 - Exchequer and Prerogative Courts of the Archbishop of York
3 - Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 4 - Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York 5 - Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury |
Post-1857 Probate Records
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 HMCS website.
A country-wide surname index to the records is available, so it is much easier to look for post-1857 wills. The indexes for 1858-1957 and the records for 1858-1925 are available on microfilm at the Family History Library.