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created table of counties and courts including Monmouth; added headings
(Editing Online Probate Indexes) |
(created table of counties and courts including Monmouth; added headings) |
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*Peculiar courts had limited jurisdiction over small areas (sometimes just one parish). The only peculiar court in Wales is the Hawarden Peculiar, which covers Hawarden parish in Flintshire. | *Peculiar courts had limited jurisdiction over small areas (sometimes just one parish). The only peculiar court in Wales is the Hawarden Peculiar, which covers Hawarden parish in Flintshire. | ||
*Archdeaconry courts were divisions of a diocese. The only arch deaconries which had probationary jurisdiction were in the diocese of St. David’s. The probate records for St. David’s diocese were divided into two groups: the | *Archdeaconry courts were divisions of a diocese. The only arch deaconries which had probationary jurisdiction were in the diocese of St. David’s. The probate records for St. David’s diocese were divided into two groups: the Archdeaconry Court of '''Brecon''', and the combined arch deaconries of '''St. David’s''', Cardigan, and Carmarthen and Gower. | ||
*Bishops’ courts (also called episcopal, commissary, diocesan, or consistory courts) were the highest local courts. In Wales there were four main bishops’ courts: '''Bangor''', '''Llandaf''', '''St. Asaph''', and '''St. David’s'''. A small area in Flintshire and Denbighshire was under the jurisdiction of the Bishops’ Court of '''Chester''' in England. Parts of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire were under the jurisdiction of the Bishops’ Court of '''Hereford'''. | *Bishops’ courts (also called episcopal, commissary, diocesan, or consistory courts) were the highest local courts. In Wales there were four main bishops’ courts: '''Bangor''', '''Llandaf''', '''St. Asaph''', and '''St. David’s'''. A small area in Flintshire and Denbighshire was under the jurisdiction of the Bishops’ Court of '''Chester''' in England. Parts of Monmouth, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire were under the jurisdiction of the Bishops’ Court of '''Hereford''' in England. | ||
*The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) was the highest court. This court was used if the deceased had property in more than one diocese. | *The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) was the highest court. This court was used if the deceased had property in more than one diocese. | ||
If a court’s decision was disputed, additional records may be found among later records of the same court or in any court of higher jurisdiction. Decisions made in the diocesan and arch deaconry courts in Wales could be appealed to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and then to the Court of Arches (of Canterbury). Final appeals from all courts were taken to the Pope until 1533. They were then taken to the Court of Delegates until 1832, after which the Privy Council handled them. | If a court’s decision was disputed, additional records may be found among later records of the same court or in any court of higher jurisdiction. Decisions made in the diocesan and arch deaconry courts in Wales could be appealed to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and then to the Court of Arches (of Canterbury). Final appeals from all courts were taken to the Pope until 1533. They were then taken to the Court of Delegates until 1832, after which the Privy Council handled them. | ||
=== Counties and Courts === | |||
Here is a list of the counties of Wales and the courts that had primary jurisdiction over all or part of them: (Click on a county name to learn more.) | |||
{| style="width: 401px; height: 421px" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="401" border="1" | |||
|- | |||
| '''COUNTY''' | |||
| '''COURT''' | |||
|- | |||
| Anglesey | |||
| Court of the Bishop of Bangor | |||
|- | |||
| Brecon | |||
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Brecon | |||
|- | |||
| Caernarvon | |||
| Court of the Bishop of Bangor | |||
|- | |||
| Cardigan | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. David | |||
|- | |||
| Carmarthen | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. David | |||
|- | |||
| Denbigh | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. Asaph; Court of the Bishop of Bangor | |||
|- | |||
| Flint | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. Asaph; Court of the Bishop of Chester | |||
|- | |||
| Glamorgan | |||
| Court of the Bishop of Llandaff; Court of the Bishop of St. David | |||
|- | |||
| Merioneth | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. Asaph; Court of the Bishop of Bangor | |||
|- | |||
| Monmouth | |||
| Court of the Bishop of Llandaff; Court of the BIshop of Hereford; Court of the Archdeaonry of Brecon | |||
|- | |||
| Montgomery | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. Asaph; Court of the Bishop of Bangor; Court of the Bishop of St. David; Court of the Bishop of Hereford | |||
|- | |||
| Pembroke | |||
| Court of the Bishop of St. David | |||
|- | |||
| Radnor | |||
| Court of the Archdeaconry of Brecon; Court of the Bishop of Hereford | |||
|} | |||
<br> | |||
=== Availability === | |||
Original wills in Wales have survived from 1565, depending on the court where they were probated. The courts have a continuous run of wills from then until 1858, when ecclesiastical probate courts were abolished. | Original wills in Wales have survived from 1565, depending on the court where they were probated. The courts have a continuous run of wills from then until 1858, when ecclesiastical probate courts were abolished. | ||