Court of Norwich (Episcopal Consistory)

England  Norfolk  Norfolk Probate Records

Location of These Probate Records

Norfolk Record Office

The Archive Centre
Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DQ

United Kingdom

Telephone: 01603 222599
Fax: 01603 761885
E-mail: norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk

 

Jurisdiction

All county parishes with the exception of Emneth, came under the jurisdiction of this court.

This court also had jurisdiction over the parishes of Upwell and Outwell which were at times a part of Cambridgeshire.

Historical Background

Probate records of the Court of Norwich (Episcopal Consistory) commence from as early as 1370 to 1857. This court held jurisdiction over all of Norfolk's parishes with the exception of Emneth Parish.

Starting Your Search in Indexes

1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.

2. Proceed to the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.

3. Contact or visit the Norfolk 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.

4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the Family History Library's cataloged entries providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you more quickly search the wills and admons which can also be circulated on microfilm via any family history .

Indexes

The Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk probate records have to some extent been indexed with the following ones:

Online indexes

A general will index (partial) for this probate court covering much of the county is available online for the years 1800-1857. More years are bring added so re-visit their website regularly.

Also, Ancestry.co.uk has indexed some probate records abstracts as well.

Printed and Published Indexes

Indexes to Norfolk wills have been compiled and published. They are as follows:

• Index of Wills proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich 1819-1857 on FHL book call #942.61 B4rs v. 47
• Index to Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1370-1857 in FHL book call # 942.61 B4rs v. 16, 21, 28, 34, 38, 47
• Index to Wills Proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1550-1603 in FHL book call # 942 B4b vols. 69 & 73

Original Handwritten Indexes

Calendars to this Probate court exist covering acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1460-1857. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations).

In addition to the calendars, a majority of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are alphabetically arranged at The Guildhall Library and are likewise organized on the microfilmed probates for this court at the Family History Library. Visit The Norfolk Record Office or the Family History Library Catalog under Norfolk, England to determine availability of records.

Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library

Indexes of Wills and Admons (Administrations) are available on microfilm at the Family History Library covering the years 1460-1857 and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk), or go to the Family History Library Catalog.

Searching for probates in this court.

ORIGINAL WILLS

1509-1547; 1558-1560; 1567-1568; 1575-1651; 1660-1857

REGISTERED COPY WILLS

1370-1857 (some missing years)

ADMINISTRATIONS ACT BOOKS

1370-1857

ADMINISTRATIONS

1680-1857

ACT BOOKS 1370-1688; 1773-1857

INVENTORIES

1584-1849 (missing years)

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)