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

There were over 320 parishes in the Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk in the following deaneries:

Blofield Breckles Brisley Flegg Holt

Ingworth Lynn Norwich Sparham

Taverham Thetford (part) Toftrees Walsingham

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 Archdeaconry Court of Norfolk commence from as early as 1530 to1652 and 1660-1857. This court held jurisdiction over 320 of Norfolk's 756 parishes all in the following deaneries:  Blofield, Breckles, Brisley, Flegg, Holt, Ingworth, Lynn, Norwich, Sparham, Taverham, Toftrees, Walsingham, and part of Thetford.

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 Guildhall Library, 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 vol. 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.

CALENDARS

1469-1858 

REGISTERED COPY WILLS

1469-1857

ADMINISTRATIONS ACT BOOKS

1549-1858

ACT BOOKS 1508-1871

PROBATE INVENTORIES

1728-1774

COURT DEPOSITIONS 1499-1788

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