Court of the Peculiar of Sawley

Step by Step
1. First search each applicable index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.

2. Proceed to "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court. Also see "FamilySearch Library History."

3. Contact or visit the Lichfield Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.

4. Visit The FamilySearch Library or, one of its 4,500 satellite FamilySearch centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records. Then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search the original wills and admons available online at a local FamilySearch center or affiliate library near you.

Online Indexes
1521-1850 Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate at Findmypast (£). Includes index by name and residence that links to images of the actual records.

Printed and Published Indexes
The collection on microfilm includes a. A calendar is an index arranged first alphabetically by the beginning letter of a testator's surname and second by date.

The British Index Library has published an index to wills for for the peculiars deposited at Lichfield including Sawley. However, it is doubtful that it actually includes Sawley wills since apparently no records survive for this period.

Archive Location
The original records are held at the Lichfield Record Office and they include:


 * Original wills, 1712-1858

Archive Records
Add information about the manuscript, printed and digital records in this location.

FamilySearch Library Records
The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available online at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you:
 * (including Sawley). The records are arranged by first letter of the testator's surname then by date.

Jurisdiction
This court had primary jurisdiction in the parishes and chapelry of Sawley, Breaston, Long Eaton, Risley, and Wilne. It was a peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield and some probates for residents of the Peculiar of Sawley area may be found among that court's records.

Though technically the Court of the Bishop of Lichfield did not have superior jurisdiction over the Peculiar of Sawley, as the largest court of original jurisdiction in the county, its records may also include the probates of persons who resided in Peak Forest.