England Church Court, the Acceptance Bond, Temerary Administrations, Indemnification Bonds - International Institute

The Acceptance Bond (summary)
Other Archdeaconry of Dorset guardianships on the same film include valuable information for the family historian regarding ages, relationships, remarriage of parents, and possible dissipation of legacies, for example:

Temerary Administrations
Amongst the disputes about estates are the temerary administrations, (literally reckless or rash), where someone other than the appointed administrator has disposed of the deceased’s goods, an example is shown below.

Chart: A Temerary Administration Archdeaconry Court of Cornwall 1783 Film 1472136

Indemnification Bond
Another type of document is the indemnification bond by which someone agrees to indemnify (protect from legal responsibility) another. Such an example was the bond of William Sheriff of Merton, Surrey shopkeeper on containing Nottinghamshire court documents. He bound himself to the trustees of the will of William Huntington late of Stockwell, Surrey shipwright on account of the dower and thirds of Sarah Sheriff his wife. A previous indenture of grant and release is mentioned.

Court Heirarchy
There were several anomalous probate procedures and also changes over the course of time. In particular, Peculiar and Donative Courts could grant probate on wills of property lying wholly within their borders. If someone had property within a peculiar and elsewhere then his will had to go up to the Archdeaconry, Diocesan or perhaps straight to the Prerogative Court in the same manner as described previously. When looking for probates first check the logical sequence of courts, then any others involved in the area.

Pre-1858 Records
The ecclesiastical courts have at least five kinds of possible sources of information about pre-1858 wills and administration:


 * Original wills
 * Executor’s copies
 * Will Register
 * Probate and Administration Act Books
 * Unproved Wills

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