ElizabethHerts
31-10-14, 05:39
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/prerogative-and-exchequer-courts-of-york-probate-index-1688-1858?_ga=1.43312421.100051294.1385661788
The Prerogative & Exchequer Courts of York Probate index 1688-1858 contains over 263,000 wills that were proved in the ecclesiastical courts of York. Prior to 1858, wills were proved in ecclesiastical courts. Church of England parishes were grouped into archdeaconries. A group of archdeaconries formed a diocese and each diocese belonged either to the ecclesiastical province of York or of Canterbury. The Prerogative Court of York dealt with cases, in which property was owned in more than one diocese, while the Exchequer Court of York exercised jurisdiction over lay men and unbeneficed clergy with goods in the diocese of York only.
The province of York had jurisdiction in the counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Westmorland and Yorkshire. Although over 80% of the records relate to Yorkshire, people from all over the British Isles and abroad had property in the province and had their wills proved in the Prerogative or Exchequer Court of York. Each record contains a transcript and an image of the original index, which can include the testator’s name, place of death, county, court, document type and date of probate.
The Prerogative & Exchequer Courts of York Probate index 1688-1858 contains over 263,000 wills that were proved in the ecclesiastical courts of York. Prior to 1858, wills were proved in ecclesiastical courts. Church of England parishes were grouped into archdeaconries. A group of archdeaconries formed a diocese and each diocese belonged either to the ecclesiastical province of York or of Canterbury. The Prerogative Court of York dealt with cases, in which property was owned in more than one diocese, while the Exchequer Court of York exercised jurisdiction over lay men and unbeneficed clergy with goods in the diocese of York only.
The province of York had jurisdiction in the counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Westmorland and Yorkshire. Although over 80% of the records relate to Yorkshire, people from all over the British Isles and abroad had property in the province and had their wills proved in the Prerogative or Exchequer Court of York. Each record contains a transcript and an image of the original index, which can include the testator’s name, place of death, county, court, document type and date of probate.