References to American Colonists in English Wills

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England Gotoarrow.png England Probate Records

Wills in England are often used by Americans to trace the origins of their colonial ancestors. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several scholars read Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills seeking references to American colonists, including Henry F. Waters, Lothrop Withington, H. Henry Lea, and J.R. Hutchinson. Later, Peter Wilson Coldham made extensive searches, expanding to other London probate courts. Leslie Mahler is currently investigating these and other probate courts for additional references to American colonists and their ancestors. Here is a list of wills that have been read:

Prerogative Court of Canterbury[edit | edit source]

Bedfordshire[edit | edit source]

Cheshire[edit | edit source]

  • 1651-1659 - Consistory Court of Chester, Original Wills, findmypast. NM

Dorset[edit | edit source]

  • pre-1701 - Peculiar Court of Canford and Poole, Original Wills, Ancestry. NM.

Essex[edit | edit source]

Gloucestershire[edit | edit source]

  • 1652-1659 - Consistory Court of Gloucester, Registered Wills, Ancestry. NM.
  • 1688-1689 - Consistory Court of Gloucester. LM.

Kent[edit | edit source]

  • 1671-1702 - Peculiar Court of the Rector of Cliffe, Registered Wills, FamilySearch. NM.

London[edit | edit source]

Middlesex[edit | edit source]

  • 1622-1636 - Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, Registered Wills, Camden, FS Library film 94257. LM.
  • 1636-1642 - Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, Registered Wills, Todd, FS Library film 94257. LM.
  • 1660-1667 - Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, Registered Wills, Smith, FS Library film 94257. LM.

Norfolk[edit | edit source]

Archdeaconry Court of Norfolk[edit | edit source]
Consistory Court of Norwich[edit | edit source]
Peculiar Court of Great Cressingham[edit | edit source]
  • 1675-1742 - Peculiar Court of Great Cressingham, Registered Wills; Digital images. NM.

Worcestershire[edit | edit source]

Consistory Court of Worcester[edit | edit source]

No direct references to American colonists were found in any of the following wills:

Explanations[edit | edit source]

LM = Read by Leslie Mahler, FASG

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mahler, Leslie. "American Colonists in English Wills," The Genealogist 17 (2003):167-174.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mahler, Leslie. "American Colonists Mentioned in London Wills," The Genealogist 14 (2000):201-205.
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