0
edits
Added category
(Importing text file) |
(Added category) |
||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
Some of the key events affecting probate record keeping are: | Some of the key events affecting probate record keeping are: | ||
'''1642–1660: | '''1642–1660: ''' The Civil War disrupted the probate process. Parliament abolished the ecclesiastical courts in 1653 but restored them in 1661. Wills proved during this interruption are filed at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. | ||
'''1796–1857: | '''1796–1857: ''' A tax was placed on all estates valued over £10. This was called an estate duty. | ||
'''1858: | '''1858: ''' The Principal Probate Registry replaced all earlier probate courts. | ||
=== Laws and Customs === | === Laws and Customs === | ||
| Line 61: | Line 61: | ||
When a father or widow died leaving minor children, relatives usually took the children without court sanction. Sometimes the court appointed a guardian or curator to look after the children’s interests until they were 21. If a child was under marriageable age (12 for girls and 14 for boys), guardianship was called "tuition." If the child was of marriageable age but under 21, it was called "curation." | When a father or widow died leaving minor children, relatives usually took the children without court sanction. Sometimes the court appointed a guardian or curator to look after the children’s interests until they were 21. If a child was under marriageable age (12 for girls and 14 for boys), guardianship was called "tuition." If the child was of marriageable age but under 21, it was called "curation." | ||
The cities of London, Bristol, and Exeter had special orphans courts. Records from these courts appear in | The cities of London, Bristol, and Exeter had special orphans courts. Records from these courts appear in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - ORPHANS AND ORPHANAGES | ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - ORPHANS AND ORPHANAGES | ||
| Line 101: | Line 101: | ||
Each probate key has two parts. The first is a research paper containing a color-coded map showing courts having jurisdiction over each area. The maps on the film and fiche copy of the probate keys are black and white, so it is not possible to use them to determine a court. It is necessary to use the paper copy of the maps. Many Family History Centers have paper copies of the maps (if a paper copy is not available, use other sources as indicated in the paragraphs that follow). At the Family History Library, use the book copy of the probate keys. | Each probate key has two parts. The first is a research paper containing a color-coded map showing courts having jurisdiction over each area. The maps on the film and fiche copy of the probate keys are black and white, so it is not possible to use them to determine a court. It is necessary to use the paper copy of the maps. Many Family History Centers have paper copies of the maps (if a paper copy is not available, use other sources as indicated in the paragraphs that follow). At the Family History Library, use the book copy of the probate keys. | ||
The second part of the probate key is a list of library call numbers for that county’s records. Many of the probate keys do not list recently acquired material. For a current listing of probate records and indexes, look in | The second part of the probate key is a list of library call numbers for that county’s records. Many of the probate keys do not list recently acquired material. For a current listing of probate records and indexes, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - PROBATE RECORDS | ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - PROBATE RECORDS | ||
| Line 127: | Line 127: | ||
=== Indexes === | === Indexes === | ||
'''Ecclesiastical Courts (pre 1858)'''<br | '''Ecclesiastical Courts (pre 1858)'''<br>Some court records have published indexes. Others have handwritten indexes filmed with the records. The index is often a "calendar", a list organized by date with a separate section for each letter of the alphabet. Surnames with the same first letter are listed together but are not in alphabetical order. | ||
An extensive collection of probate indexes are part of the following work: | An extensive collection of probate indexes are part of the following work: | ||
| Line 135: | Line 135: | ||
Other organizations, including family history societies, have also published indexes. | Other organizations, including family history societies, have also published indexes. | ||
'''Principal Probate Registry (1857-1957)'''<br | '''Principal Probate Registry (1857-1957)'''<br>Nationwide annual indexes to all wills and administrations of the Principal Probate Registry from 1858 to 1957 are on film at the Family History Library. They give the deceased’s full name and last address, death date, probate type and date, and estate value. Film numbers are in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: ENGLAND - PROBATE RECORDS | ||
'''Estate duty'''<br | '''Estate duty'''<br>Registers from 1796 to 1858 have been indexed. These indexes are useful for locating wills and admons probated between these dates, even if you do not know your ancestor’s residence. Estate duty registers contain the deceased’s name, heirs, and executors as well as the court at which the will was proved. They sometimes include information not given in the original will. | ||
'''Will Beneficiaries'''<br | '''Will Beneficiaries'''<br>Some estimate that only 5-10% of the population left a will. Those persons named in a will, a beneficiary, account for a much larger portion of the population. A few indexes are being made available that identify the persons mentioned in wills. For a list of know indexes to will beneficiaries '''[[England Will Beneficiary Indexes|read on...]]''' | ||
=== Probate Records at the Family History Library === | === Probate Records at the Family History Library === | ||
The Family History Library has a large collection of probate records. Follow these instructions to find them. <br | The Family History Library has a large collection of probate records. Follow these instructions to find them. <br>1. Go to [http://www.familysearch.org/ www.familysearch.org] | ||
2. | 2. Click the '''Library''' tab. | ||
3. | 3. Click '''Family History Library Catalog'''. | ||
4. | 4. Click '''Place Search'''. | ||
5. | 5. Type '''England''' or the name of a county, and click '''Search'''. | ||
6. | 6. Click the locality that you want. | ||
7. | 7. Scroll down the list of topics, and click '''Probate records'''. | ||
8. | 8. Click on an appropriate title. | ||
Click '''View Film Notes''' to see the film numbers. | Click '''View Film Notes''' to see the film numbers. | ||
| Line 163: | Line 163: | ||
Post-1857 probate records are on microfilm. The library has microfilm copies of indexes from 1858 to 1955, wills from 1858 to 1925, and some administrations. | Post-1857 probate records are on microfilm. The library has microfilm copies of indexes from 1858 to 1955, wills from 1858 to 1925, and some administrations. | ||
Many probate records from the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall were destroyed during World War II. For these counties, abstracts (1796–1812) or copies (1812–1850) of all wills on which an estate duty was paid are available at the Family History Library. These records may be found in | Many probate records from the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall were destroyed during World War II. For these counties, abstracts (1796–1812) or copies (1812–1850) of all wills on which an estate duty was paid are available at the Family History Library. These records may be found in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - PROBATE RECORDS | ENGLAND, [COUNTY] - PROBATE RECORDS | ||
Estate Duty abstracts (1796–1852) and indexes (1796–1903) for the whole country are on microfilm. A typescript register of these film numbers, titled England and Wales Estate Duty Office: Death Duty Registers, is available only at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers may also be found in | Estate Duty abstracts (1796–1852) and indexes (1796–1903) for the whole country are on microfilm. A typescript register of these film numbers, titled England and Wales Estate Duty Office: Death Duty Registers, is available only at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers may also be found in the Place search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
ENGLAND - PROBATE RECORDS | ENGLAND - PROBATE RECORDS | ||
| Line 177: | Line 177: | ||
For some courts not all documents or time periods have been microfilmed. For a few courts, the library has no records at all. Sometimes a particular record was omitted from the filming. To obtain a copy of a record not at the library, contact the archive that holds the original records. For copies of wills after 1925 or administrations after 1857, write to: | For some courts not all documents or time periods have been microfilmed. For a few courts, the library has no records at all. Sometimes a particular record was omitted from the filming. To obtain a copy of a record not at the library, contact the archive that holds the original records. For copies of wills after 1925 or administrations after 1857, write to: | ||
'''York Probate Sub-Registry<br | '''York Probate Sub-Registry<br>'''Castle Chambers<br>Clifford Street<br>York Y01 9RG<br>England <br>Email: [mailto:york.psr@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk york.psr@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk]<br>Telephone: 01904 666777<br>Internet: http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/basics/probateoffices.htm | ||
When visiting England the office location is: | When visiting England the office location is: | ||
'''Probate Search Rooms<br | '''Probate Search Rooms<br>'''First Avenue House<br>42–49 High Holborn<br>London<br>England<br>Internet:'''http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Research_Guide:_Probate_Records'''''' ''' | ||
For pre-1858 probate records, the following sources list dates and repositories where you may write for records not available at the Library: | For pre-1858 probate records, the following sources list dates and repositories where you may write for records not available at the Library: | ||
| Line 208: | Line 208: | ||
To overcome these problems, search the records of all probate courts having jurisdiction over the areas where the individual had property. You may also need to extend your search several years after the individual’s death. | To overcome these problems, search the records of all probate courts having jurisdiction over the areas where the individual had property. You may also need to extend your search several years after the individual’s death. | ||
[[Category:England]] | |||