Need help understanding will searches

[Jenjen]

My 4gGrandfather died sometime before 1832. He died in Stockport but had an estate in Derbyshire( don't know where but it there was mentionof it in his son's will) Where should I be looking for this will? It is not in Cheshire/Lancashire. I am told it would probably be proved in a higher court but I don't know where to look. If anyone can tell me I would also like to know if I can search online for the information.
Thanks
Jen

[Guy Etchells]

Prior to 1858 wills were proved according to where the person lived or owned property and the value of the estate.

Archdeacon's Court - Bishop's Court - Archbishop's Court
If the goods were valued £5 (£10 in London) or above the will would be proved in the Archbishop's Court of York [PCY (if in the north of England)] or Canterbury [PCC (if in the south of England)].
If the estate was within one Archdeaconry the lowest court (Archdeacon's) would prove the will.
If the estate was within more than one Archdeaconry but within one Diocese the next court (Bishop's) would prove the will.
Otherwise the highest court (the Archbishop's) would prove the will.
If the estate was in both the north & south of England the PCC being the superior Archbishop's Court would prove the will.
Try searching the PCY followed by the PCC.
Cheers
Guy

[Colin Moretti]

Hello Jen

Have you tried the PCC wills (online at The National Archives website)? PCC had jurisdiction over the whole country and many used it even if it was not necessary. Wills for the northern half of the country were also proved at the Prerogative Court of York, records are held at the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, York.

Colin

[Jenjen]

Thanks to both for your input. I have looked at both sites and have drawn a blank, although I have never actually come up with an index in York. perhaps I am not getting to the right place!
Jen

[Colin Moretti]

Hello Jen

I have never actually come up with an index in York. perhaps I am not getting to the right place!
Jen

This is what the Borthwick website says about online indexes:
<quote>
On-line will indexes - indexes are available for the probate records up to 1500 and for the collection of Peculiar Probate Record we hold at British Origins.com.
<unquote>

And here's the relevant bit of British Origins:
<quote>
York Peculiars Probate Index 1383-1883 over 25,000 wills
This index covers over 25,000 wills proved in the fifty four peculiar courts of the Province of York in the five-hundred year period from 1383 to 1883. The originals of all the wills indexed here are again held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives and copies of these wills can be ordered online, via the indexes.
<unquote>

The British Origins website lets you search for a surname for free but you have to pay to get any details.

Colin

[arthurk]

I think with British Origins you can check the index to see if there are any entries before you pay anything. However, you can access the British Origins database for free in the library of the Society of Genealogists in London - though if you're not a member, you have to pay to use the library.

The SoG also has films of the handwritten indexes to PCY wills. (I think the films might also be available at LDS centres, but I've never tried them.) It's quite laborious going through these, but sometimes it's the only way. Unfortunately the indexes to York wills haven't been published to anything like the same extent as the PCC ones, either in print or online.

Arthur

[uksearch]

See Manchester Forum
Index of Chester Wills 1831-1857 at MCL

UK