Medieval source material on the internet: Probate records
Probate records
For a brief guide to wills,
click here
For English probate indexes in Ancestry's UK and Ireland Collection,
click here
- England and Wales Published Wills and Probate Indexes (Findmypast)
Index compiled from volumes published by the British Record Society and others, searchable by subscribers. Currently includes wills and administrations from about 30 counties and the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, from the late-medieval period to the 19th century.
- Prerogative Court of Canterbury:
- England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 (Ancestry.co.uk)
Index and images of registered wills available to Premium subscribers. Dates and places are removed from search results for non-subscribers. The images seem to be of generally higher quality than those available directly from the National Archives. The index differs from the National Archives's and both contain inaccuracies, so the indexes published by the British Record Society should still be checked for safety.
- [Prerogative Court of Canterbury] Wills 1384-1858 (The National Archives)
Images of registered wills available as pay-per-view, with a free index. Unfortunately the index is not very accurate for the earlier part of this period, so the indexes published by the British Record Society should also be checked for safety. The images seem to be generally of lower quality than those available from Ancestry.co.uk.
- Fifty
earliest English wills in the Court of Probate, London: A. D. 1387-1439: with a priest's of 1454
(Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse, University of Michigan)
Searchable text, from F.J. Furnivall's edition of 1882 (reprinted 1964) -
Early English Text Society, Original Series, vol. 78
- J. Challenor C. Smith, compiler, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1383-1558. [A-J] (1893) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 10.
- J. Challenor C. Smith, compiler, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1383-1558. [K-Z] (1895) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 11.
- S. A. Smith, compiler, and Leland L. Duncan, editor, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1558-1583. (1898) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 18.
- S. A. Smith, compiler, and Edward Alexander Fry, editor, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1584-1604. (1901) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 25.
- E. Stokes, compiler, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1605-1619. (1912) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 43.
- R. H. Ernest Hill, editor, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1620-1629. (1912) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 44.
- Thomas M. Blagg, editor, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1657-1660. (1936) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 61.
- John Ainsworth, editor, Index of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1671-1675. (1942) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 67.
- C. Harold Ridge, editor, Index to wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1686-1693. (1958) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 77.
- Marc Fitch, editor, Index to wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ... 1694-1700. (1960) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library, volume 80.
- The Tudor Inventories from
Appleby [Leicestershire], 1530-1601
(Alan Roberts, Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies)
List of 33 inventories, and transcripts of 9
- Bolsover [Derbyshire] Surnames (Mike Spathaky)
Includes Bolsover wills at Lichfield, as well as some other 16th century sources.
- Brinkworth [Wiltshire] wills, to 1650: list, texts pp.6-40 and pp.41-75, and name index (Clive Henly, GENUKI)
- Bristol:
- Sheila Lang and Margaret McGregor, editors, Tudor Wills Proved in Bristol 1546-1603. (1993) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 44. Abstracts of wills.
- Edwin and Stella George, editors, with the assistance of Peter Fleming, Bristol Probate Inventories Part 1: 1542-1650. (2002) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 54. Transcripts.
- Edwin and Stella George, editors, with the assistance of Peter Fleming, Bristol Probate Inventories [Part 2] 1657-1689. (2005) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Bristol Record Society Publications, 57. Transcripts.
- Buckinghamshire Wills Database 1483-1858 (Buckinghamshire County Council/Buckinghamshire Family History Society)
Index of over 35,000 wills proved in the archdeaconry court, and of some of the administrations granted.
- List of wills in the Buxton Papers (The Buxton Papers, Cambridge University Library)
Index of wills among the papers of the Buxton family of Norfolk; 15th century and later.
- Canterbury, province of: J. Challenor Smith, Calendar of Lambeth Wills (14th-early 17th centuries) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Genealogist, new series, volumes 34 (1918) and 35 (1919). List, arranged alphabetically by surname, of wills from the registers of the archbishops of Canterbury, relating to various jurisdictions. With an introduction.
- Cheltenham Probate Abstracts 1660-1740 (Findmypast/Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to Cheltenham wills, administrations and inventories proved in the Consistory Court of the bishop of Gloucester.
- Chester Wills and Probate 1492-1911 (Find My Past)
Freely searchable index of wills, administrations and inventories. Covers Chester consistory court, 1492-1857, and Chester probate registry, 1858-1911.
- Cheshire Wills and Probate (Findmypast)
Freely searchable index, covering Chester consistory court, 1492–1857, and Cheshire probate registry, 1858-1911.
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1545 to 1620. (1879) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 2. Together with lists of transcripts of early wills in the consistory court, wills printed by the Chetham Society, wills notes by the Revs J. and G. J. Piccope, and wills preserved in Harleian manuscript 1991.
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1621 to 1650. (1881) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 4. With lists of Lancashire and Cheshire wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1650-1660, and Lancashire and Cheshire administrations granted in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1650-1660.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1660 to 1680. (1887) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 15. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1681 to 1700. (1888) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 18. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1701 to 1720. (1889) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 20. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1721 to 1740. (1890) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 22. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Court of Probate, at Chester, from A.D. 1741 to 1760. (1892) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 25. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
- William Fergusson Irvine, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Probate Registry, at Chester, from A.D. 1761 to 1780; A-M. (1898) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 37.
- William Fergusson Irvine, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Probate Registry, at Chester, from A.D. [1761 to 1780]; N-Z. (1899) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 38. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
- William Fergusson Irvine, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Probate Registry, at Chester, from A.D. 1781 to 1790. (1902) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 44. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
- William Fergusson Irvine, ed., An Index to the Wills and Inventories now preserved in the Probate Registry, at Chester, from A.D. 1791 to 1800. (1902) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 45. Includes a list of the "infra" wills (for which the personalty was under £40) between the same years.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- R. Stewart-Brown, ed., An Index to the Wills and Administrations (Including the "Infra" Wills) now preserved in the Probate Registry, at Chester, for the years 1801 to 1810, both inclusive. Part 1. - A to L. (1911) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 62.
- R. Stewart-Brown, ed., An Index to the Wills and Administrations (Including the "Infra" Wills) now preserved in the Probate Registry, at Chester, for the years 1801 to 1810, both inclusive. Part 2. - M to Z. (1912) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, volume 63. Including a supplementary list of wills and administrations, hitherto supposed to have been lost, for 1670, and a supplementary list of "infra" wills (for which the personalty was less than £40) for 1693.
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., Lancashire and Cheshire wills and inventories at Chester, with an appendix of abstracts of wills now lost or destroyed (1884) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, new series, volume 3. Transcripts of selected documents, 1477-1746, including wills now lost.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- J. P. Earwaker, ed., Lancashire and Cheshire wills and inventories, 1572 to 1696, now preserved at Chester, with an appendix of Lancashire and Cheshire wills and inventories proved at York of Richmond, 1542 to 1649 (1893) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Chetham Society, new series, volume 28. mainly selected abstracts.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- 16th- and 17th-century wills from
Cleobury Mortimer [Shropshire]
[formerly at http://www.xea95.dial.pipex.com/cleomortwills.htm;
not available, 28/10/2001; see the Internet Archive's
copy
of this page, from July 2001] (Chris Potter)
- Cornish Wills proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (Kathie Weigel, Cornish Genealogy Database)
Lists of 16th- and 17th-century wills, including complete coverage for 1558-1604, 1620-1629 and 1653-1656; there are also abstracts for some of the 17th-century wills.
-
Derbyshire Probate Records
(Rosemary Lockie)
Submitted abstracts, in progress
- Devon Wills Project (GENUKI and others)
Consolidated index, in the process of compilation from various sources, of Devon wills, administrations and inventories, currently including more than 300,000 entries. Nearly half the entries are also searchable at Origins.net.
- H. F. Berry, ed., Register of Wills and Inventories of the Diocese of Dublin in the Time of Archbishops Tregury and Walton, 1457-1483 (1898) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Transcript of Latin text with English translation. Also includes visitations and excommunications.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 .]
- [James Raine, ed.,] Wills and inventories illustrative of the history, manners, language, statistics, &c., of the northern counties of England, from the eleventh century downwards. Part 1. (1835) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Surtees Society volume 2. Transcripts, some in Latin, from the 11th century to 1581, mainly from the Durham diocesan registry.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- [J. C. Hodgson, ed.] Wills and Inventories from the Registry at Durham. Part 3. (1906) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Surtees Society, volume 112. Abstracts of selected wills, 1543-1602.
-
Documents of Record concerning Testaments
(The Records of Earls Colne; Cambridge University)
Transcripts of testamentary records relating to Earls Colne, Essex,
15th century and later
- Summary of Edenbridge [Kent] Wills (Lionel Cole)
List of wills proved before 1857 (all jurisdictions), with notes on people and properties mentioned.
- Emmison's Elizabethan Life [Essex]: Home, Work and Land, The wills of Gentry, The wills of Merchants and The wills of Yeomen (Mike Foster, GENUKI)
Indexes to names from F. G. Emmison's Elizabethan life series - the first from Home, work & land: from Essex wills and sessions and manorial records (1976), and the other three from Wills of Essex gentry & yeomen preserved in the Essex Record Office (1980).
-
Wills of Eyam [Derbyshire] residents 1586 to 1650 (GENUKI) [not available, 27 June 2011; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page, from October 2010]
List of wills at Lichfield Joint Record Office
- Gilling [Yorkshire]
Testamentary Wills (Adrian and Gill Smith, APL-385)
List, 15th and 16th centuries, John Marwood's History of Gilling
- Gloucestershire Archives Genealogical Search
Includes index to wills proved at Gloucester, 1541-1858. These wills are also indexed at Findmypast.
-
Early Gloucestershire Probate Records
(Leslie Mahler, GENUKI)
Indexes and abstracts, 16th and 17th centuries, in progress
-
Central and South Gloucestershire Probate Records
(Rosemary Lockie)
Submitted abstracts, in progress
- Hampshire Record Office's online archive catalogue
Includes references to all Hampshire wills proved in the courts of Winchester diocese to 1858 (including the Consistory Court, Archdeaconry of Winchester Court and Peculiar Courts).
- The
Last Testament of King Henry II of England (Wolfram and other genealogies)
Latin text, from John Nicholas, ed.,
Collection of all the Wills, now known to be extant, of the Kings and Queens of England
-
Herefordshire Probate Records
(Rosemary Lockie)
Submitted abstracts, in progress
- Arthur Hussey,
Herne [Kent]
Wills: Abstracts.- I (Kent Archaeological Society)
Text of a paper originally published in Archaeologia Cantiana, vol. 28, pp. 83-114 (1909)
Abstracts of wills from the 14th and 15th centuries, with notes on some families
- Hertfordshire Probate Records, Index, 1415-1858 (Findmypast)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to wills, administrations and inventories in the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon (Hitchin Division) court, 1557-1857, and the Archdeaconry of St Albans court, 1415-1857.
-
Abstracts of probate documents,
Hungerford and Wantage area (in progress; Nick Hidden, GENUKI)
-
Medieval & Tudor Kent P.C.C. & C.C.C. Wills
(in progress; Kent Archaeological Society)
Transcripts of Kent wills from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
and the Consistory Court of Canterbury by Leland Lewis Duncan,
with indexes by surname and place name. This page also includes links to other collections of will abstracts originally published in Archaeologia Cantiana.
- Index of wills in West Kent, [1383] to 1650
(including some abstracts; Jean Fox)
- Rochester Consistory Court, 1440-1561 [See also under Rochester]
- Card index in CKS, Maidstone, of wills proved in Prerogative Court of Canterbury to 1653
- Deanery of Shoreham, wills and administrations, 1614-1821
- Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills 1383-1629 [West Kent]
- Abstract of Probate Acts, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1630-1649 (parishes in 1-3)
- Commissary Court of London (parishes in 1-3)
- Canterbury Probate Records (1396-1858) Database (formally East Kent Wills) (M. J. and D. G. Cozens, Canterbury Cathedral Archives)
Complete index of wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury and Consistory Court of Canterbury to 1858.
- Kent Wills & Probate Indexes 1328-1890 Kent Wills & Probate Indexes 1328-1890 (Findmypast)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to wills proved in Rochester Consistory Court (c.1440-1857), Rochester Archdeaconry Court (1635-1857) and the Peculiar of Cliffe (1671-1843).
- A. W. Hughes Clarke, editor, Kentish Wills. Genealogical extracts from sixteenth-century wills in the consistory court at Canterbury. (1929) (FamilySearch)
Reprinted from Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica. With an index of names.
- Kentish
Administrations, A.D. 1559 TO 1603 (Kent Archaeological Society) [not available, 12 December 2023; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page]
List of administrations from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury,
compiled by Leland L. Duncan, from Archaeologia Cantiana, volume 18 (1889)
- Leland L. Duncan/John Blythe Dobson, Index to Kentish Administrations, 1559-1649 (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Alphabetically arranged list of the abstracts by Leland L. Duncan originally printed in Archaeologia Cantiana.
- Kent Wills & Probate Indexes 1328-1890 Kent Wills & Probate Indexes 1328-1890 (Findmypast)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to inventories in the Archdeaconry Court (1571-1842) and Consistory Court (1596-1748) of the diocese of Canterbury and the Archdeaconry and Consistory Courts of the diocese of Rochester (1687-1784).
- Kentish
Administrations, A.D. 1604-1649 (Kent Archaeological Society) [not available, 12 December 2023; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page]
List of administrations from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury,
compiled by Leland L. Duncan, from Archaeologia Cantiana, volume 20 (1893)
- Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury and Consistory Court of Canterbury Inventories (Maureen Rawson)
Indexes to probate inventories, in progress, so far covering only a few years in the 17th century.
- 16th- and 17th-century wills from
Kinlet [Shropshire]
[formerly at http://www.xea95.dial.pipex.com/kinletwills.htm;
not available, 28/10/2001; see the Internet Archive's
copy
of this page, from July 2001] (Chris Potter)
- [Francis Collins, ed.,] Wills & administrations from the Knaresborough court rolls with index to original wills, &c., at Somerset House (1905) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Surtees Society, volume 110. Volume 2 of Knaresborough wills and associated documents, covering abstracts 1607-68, with an index of wills transferred to Somerset House, from 1640-1858.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 .]
- Lancashire Wills and Probate 1457-1858 (Findmypast)
Index to wills from the western deaneries of the archdeaconry of Richmond, 1457-1812, (with some abstracts of wills) and the peculiar of the manor of Halton, 1615-1812. From indexes published by the Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society; searchable by subscribers.
- Lancashire Will Search (B's Home Page)
Index compiled from various sources, including wills proved at Chester for 1545-1838, PCC wills for 1651-1660 and partial coverage of the Archdeaconry of Richmond.
- W. P. W. Phillimore, ed., Calendars of Wills and Administrations in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, 1516 to 1652... (1892) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
British Record Society, volume 7. Also includes wills proved in peculiars, then at Lichfield (1529-1652), Birmingham (1675-1790) and Derby (1753-1790).
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Lichfield Wills (Dave Postles, Leicester University) [not available, 12 December 2023; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page]
List of wills proved at Lichfield, to 1546.
- Lincoln/Lincolnshire
- C. W. Foster, editor, Calendars of Lincoln wills. Volume 1. 1320-1600 (1902; reprinted 1968) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library 28. Alphabetical index of testators, compiled from Lincoln episcopal registers, 1320-1547, miscellaneous documents in the registry, 1489-1588, and wills proved in the consistory and other courts of Lincoln, 1506-1600.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- C. W. Foster, editor, Calendars of Lincoln wills. Volume 2. Consistory court wills, 1601-1652 (1910; reprinted 1968) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
British Record Society, Index Library 41. Alphabetical index of testators.
- C. W. Foster, editor, Calendars of administrations in the consistory court of Lincoln, A.D. 1540-1659 (1921) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lincoln Record Society, volume 16/British Record Society, Index Library 52. Alphabetical index of those for whom administrations were granted by theconsistory court, the court of the bishop's commissary within the archdeaconry of Lincoln, and the court of the archdeacon of Lincoln within his archdeaconry.
[Other copies at: HathiTrust: 1 ; 2 .]
- Joseph Jackson Howard, editor, Some unindexed Wills at Lincoln (found in the Bishop's Registry) (1890) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, second series, volume 3, pp. 59-60 (1890). List arranged alphabetically by testator. Nearly all from 1638-1640, but some from outside this period, including a number from the second half of the 16th century.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- C. W. Foster, editor, Lincoln wills registered in the district probate registry at Lincoln. Volume 1. A.D. 1271 to A.D. 1526 (1914) (HathiTrust)
Lincoln Record Society, volume 5. English abstracts.
- C. W. Foster, editor, Lincoln wills registered in the district probate registry at Lincoln. Volume 2. A.D. 1505 to A.D. 1530 (1918) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Lincoln Record Society, volume 10. English abstracts.
[Other copies at: HathiTrust.]
- C. W. Foster, editor, Lincoln wills registered in the district probate registry at Lincoln. Volume 3. A.D. 1530 to A.D. 1532 (1930) (HathiTrust)
Lincoln Record Society, volume 24. English abstracts.
- Alfred Gibbons Early Lincoln wills: An abstract of all the wills and administrations recorded in the episcopal registers of the old diocese of Lincoln ... 1280-1547 (1888) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Lincoln
diocese documents, 1450-1544 (Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse, University of Michigan)
Searchable text, from the edition of Andrew Clark (1914). Most of the documents are wills,
in English or Latin; others include vows of celibacy and records relating to church estates.
- Rev. A. R. Maddison, Lincolnshire Wills. First Series A.D. 1500-1600 (1888) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
English abstracts of selected wills.
- Rev. A. R. Maddison, Lincolnshire Wills. Second Series A.D. 1600-1617 (1888) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
English abstracts of selected wills.
[Other copies at: Google Books [Hints and tips].]
- Reginald R. Sharpe, ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London, A.D. 1258-A.D. 1688. Part I. A.D. 1258-A.D. 1358. (1889) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- Reginald R. Sharpe, ed., Calendar of Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London, A.D. 1258-A.D. 1688. Part II. A.D. 1358-A.D. 1688. (1890) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
- London: Court of Husting Will Abstracts 1258-1688 (Findmypast)
[From the published volumes edited Reginald R. Sharpe (see above).] Available to subscribers.
- London Commissary Court, will extracts of the registered copy wills ... 1374-1521 (FamilySearch)
Abstracts of wills with an index of names at the beginning, including those for whom relationships are stated and apparently some others. In the index, "Film #" and "Page" correspond to "Library call number" and "[Will] Number" in the abstracts. The year is also given in both the index and the abstracts. The abstracts are arranged in order of library call number and will number.
- Archdeaconry Court of London Wills Index 1700-1807 (Findmypast)
Index to over 5000 wills, mainly from the first half of the 18th century, searchable by subscribers; there are very few entries after the 1770s.
- London and Middlesex Will Abstracts 1700-1704 (Findmypast)
Abstracts of 2042 wills proved in various courts; available to subscribers.
- Transcript of the will of Laurence Lyndley of Leathley, Yorkshire, 1557 (Ronald A. Cawthorn) [not available, 24 July 2009]
- Arthur Hussey, Milton [Kent]
Wills (Next Sittingbourne) - I. and
Milton
Wills (next Sittingbourne) [Kent]- II. (Kent Archaeological Society)
Text of papers originally published in Archaeologia Cantiana,
vol. 44, pp. 79-103 (1932) and vol. 45 (1933), pp. 13-30.
Abstracts of 15th- and 16th-century wills
- Norfolk Record Office online catalogue
Searchable database, in progress. Coverage is now described as pre-1857 wills, administrations and inventories from
the Norwich consistory court, the archdeaconry of Norwich, the archdeaconry of Norfolk and the peculiars.
Previously a more detailed list was available, which included:
- Norwich Consistory Court wills 1370-1858 and administrations 1371-1857 (catalogue reference 'NCC')
- Peculiar of Great Cressingham wills 1675-1754 ('PGC 4' and 'PGC 5') and administrations 1702-1710 ('PGC 7')
- Peculiar of Castle Rising indexes of wills 1624-1724 and administrations 1703-1720 ('PRCR')
- Court of the City of Norwich enrolled wills, 1286-1508 ('NCR')
- King's Lynn Borough enrolled wills 1276-1539 ('KL/C 12')
- Northamptonshire:
- [James Raine, ed.] Wills and inventories illustrative of the history, manners, language, statistics, etc., of the northern counties of England, from the eleventh century downwards. Part 1. (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Surtees Society, vol. 2 (1835). 11th century-1581; mainly from the Durham diocesan registry.
- [J. W. Clay, ed.] North country wills, being abstracts of wills relating to the counties of York, Nottingham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland at Somerset House and Lambeth Palace. Volume 1. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa) [not available, 19 April 2015; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page, from January 2007]
Surtees Society, vol. 116 (1908). Covers 1383-1558. Transcripts (in Latin for earlier wills). PDF file (21 MB).
- [J. W. Clay, ed.,] North Country Wills, being abstracts of wills relating to the counties of York, Nottingham, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland .... Volume 1. 1383-1558. (1908) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Surtees Society, volume 116. Transcripts; the earlier documents in Latin.
- North country wills, being abstracts of wills relating to the counties of York, Nottingham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland at Somerset House and Lambeth Palace. Volume 2. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa) [not available, 19 April 2015; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page, from February 2013]
Surtees Society, vol. 121 (1912). Covers 1558-1604. PDF file (16 MB).
- Oxfordshire Wills Index 1516-1857 (Findmypast)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to wills proved in the Oxford consistory and archdeaconry courts, 1516 to 1857, and Oxfordshire peculiar courts, 1547-1856 (except that of the Chancellor of Oxford University). Images of the documents can be viewed online.
- Index of Probate Inventories,
Oxfordshire 1550-1590:
data available as a
text file or
DBASE III.DBF version (M.Brewerton)
- Richard III Society:
- Index of Testators (Richard III Society)
Index to testators of published English wills made or proved between 1398/9 and 1540/1, downloadable as an Excel file, with an introduction and a key to sources.
- James Raine, ed., Wills and inventories from the registry of the archdeaconry of Richmond, extending over portions of the counties of York, Westmerland, Cumberland and Lancaster (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa) [not available, 19 April 2015; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page, from January 2007]
Surtees Society, vol. 26 (1853). Selection from 1442-1579; some earlier items in Latin. PDF file (20 MB).
- Rochester: see also Kent.
- Index of Wills
Proved in the Rochester Consistory Court: Wills 1440 - 1561 (Kent Archaeological Society)
Scanned images of the index compiled by Leland L. Duncan, and published in Kent Records,
vol. 9 (1924)
- Rutland:
- Archdeaconry
Court of Canterbury: Sandhurst wills at the Centre for Kentish Studies, Maidstone
(Bodiam Mill: Sources in Genealogy
and Local History for Sandhurst in Kent and nearby villages)
List of 243 wills from Sandhurst, Kent, 1449-1712; now available by paid subscription only
- Somerset Wills Abstracts 1385-1556 (Findmypast)
Abstracts of the wills for Somerset testators proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1385-1558, of registered copy wills from the Consistory Court of Wells, 1539-1541/2, and of wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Wells, 1543-1546 and 1554-1556. Available to subscribers.
- Surrey & South London Will Abstracts, 1470-1856 (Findmypast)
Abstracts by Cliff Webb and others of over 28,000 wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Surrey and at the Commissary Court of Surrey, searchable by subscribers.
- Surrey Peculiars Probate Index 1660-1751 (Findmypast)
Index to records relating to the deanery of Croydon; searchable by subscribers.
- Surrey PCC Will Abstracts 1736-1794 (Findmypast)
From manuscript notes by Alfred Ridley Bax held by the Society of Genealogists; available to subscribers.
- Swansea [Glamorgan] Wills Index: 1564-1858 (R. James, GENUKI)
- Sir N.H. Nicolas, Testamenta Vetusta (1826)
A classic collection of abstracts of medieval and early modern wills:
- Wills proved in the Welsh Ecclesiastical courts before 1858 (National Library of Wales)
Online index of wills covering 1543-1858, with free access to digital images of wills for most jurisdictions.
-
Abstracts of probate documents,
Hungerford and Wantage area (in progress; Nick Hidden)
- Wills Probate and Inventories
[relating to Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and neighbourhood, at Lichfield Joint Record Office, 1524-1602]
(John Palmer, Wirksworth Parish Records)
Alphabetical list, supplied by David Kiernan
- [James Raine, ed.] Testamenta Eboracensia; or wills registered at York illustrative of the history, manners, language, statistics, etc., of the province of York, from the year 1300 downwards. Parts 1 and 2. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa) [not available, 19 April 2015; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page, from February 2013]
Surtees Society, volumes 4 (1836) and 30 (1855). Selection of wills, 1316-1467. PDF file (50 MB). Part 2 includes an index to both parts.
- [James Raine, ed.] Testamenta Eboracensia or Wills Registered at York ... from the year MCCC. downwards. Part 1, (1836) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Surtees Society, volume 4. Latin transcripts of selected wills, 1316-1430; indexed in part 2.
[Other copies at: Bavarian State Library.]
- [James Raine, ed.] Testamenta Eboracensia. A selection of wills from the Registry at York. Part 2. (1855) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Surtees Society, volume 30. Covers 1429-1467; with an index to parts 1 and 2.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; Bavarian State Library.]
- [James Raine, ed.] Testamenta Eboracensia. A selection of wills from the Registry at York. Volume 3. (1865) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Surtees Society, volume 45. Covers wills 1395-1491, and other material 1374-1531.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; Bavarian State Library.]
- Testamenta Eboracensia. A selection of wills from the Registry at York. Volume 4. (1869) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Surtees Society, volume 53. Covers wills 1420-1509, and other material 1308-1556.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; Bavarian State Library.]
- Testamenta Eboracensia: a selection of wills from the registry at York. Vol. 5. (Bob Boynton, University of Iowa) [not available, 19 April 2015; see the Internet Archive's copy of this page, from January 2007]
Surtees Society vol. 79 (1884). Covers 1509-1531; including some from other jurisdictions. PDF file (22 MB).
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 .]
- [J. W. Clay, ed.] Testamenta Eboracensia. A selection of wills from the Registry at York. Volume 6. (1902) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Surtees Society, volume 106. Covers 1516-1551.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive: 1 ; 2 .]
- Index of wills in the York Registry 1389-1514. (1889) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association, Record Series volume 6.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1514-1553. (1891) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association, Record Series volume 11.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1554 to 1568. (1893) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 14.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1568 to 1585. (1895) (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 19.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1585 to 1594. (1897) (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 22.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1594 to 1602. (1898) (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 24.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1603 to 1611. (1899) (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 26.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1612 to 1619. (1900) (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 28.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1620 to 1627. (1902) (HathiTrust Digital Library)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 32.
- Index of wills in the York Registry A.D. 1627 to 1636. Administrations A.D. 1627 to 1652. (1905) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, volume 35.
- [F. Collins, ed.] Wills in the York Registry from 1636 to 1652. (1888) (Google Books [Hints and tips])
Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association, volume 4.
[Other copies at: Internet Archive - Text Archive.]
- Index of wills, administrations, and probate acts, in the York Registry, A.D. 1660 to 1665. And also of the unregistered wills and the probate acts, Aug. 1, 1633, to July 31, 1634... (1913) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society, Record Series volume 49. Also includes "Re Infecta" wills and the wills in Bundles A and B.
- Index of wills, administrations, and probate acts, in the York registry, A. D. 1666-1672. And also of the wills, etc. in certain peculiars. (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series, volume 60 (1920). In addition to the Exchequer and Prerogative Courts for 1666-1672, the index covers Aldborough Manor Court (1610-1700) and the Peculiars of the Provost of the Collegiate Church of St John of Beverley (1539-1552), the Archbishop in Hexham and Hexhamshire (1593-1602), the Dean and Chapter (1336-1343 and 1352-1429) and St Leonard's Hospital, York (1410-1533).
- York Medieval Probate Index 1267-1500 (Findmypast/Borthwick Institute)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to over 10,000 wills proved in the Prerogative and Exchequer Courts of York, in the period 1267-1500.
- York Peculiars Probate Index 1383-1883 (Findmypast)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to over 25,000 wills proved in the 54 peculiar courts of the Province of York, in the period 1383-1883. Images of the documents are also available for many of the wills..
- Prerogative and Exchequer Courts of York Probate Index 1688-1858 (Findmypast)
Index, searchable by subscribers, to wills proved in the Prerogative and Exchequer Courts of York, in the period 1688-1858.
- Francis Collins, A Catalogue of the Yorkshire Wills at Somerset House, for the Years 1649 to 1660. (1885) (Internet Archive - Text Archive)
In Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Association, Record Series volume 1.