Court of the Bishop of Ely (Episcopal Consistory)

England Bedfordshire Probate Records, Cambridgeshire Probate Records

Jurisdiction
This ecclesiastical court had pre-1858 jurisdiction over the following:

Bedfordshire
From 1837, secondary jurisdiction over the parishes in the Archdeaconry of Bedfordshire, which was transferred to the Diocese of Ely in that year.

Cambridgeshire
This court had jurisdiction over the diocese of Ely (most of the upper half of the county).

Huntingdon
From 1837, secondary jurisdiction over the parishes in the Archdeaconries of Huntingdon, which was transferred to the Diocese of Ely in that year.

Norfolk
The parish of Emneth.

Suffolk
From 1837, secondary jurisdiction over the parishes in the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, which was transferred to the Diocese of Ely in that year.

Records
The original records of this court are deposited at the Cambridge University Library in the city of Cambridge. Contact the library for assistance.

The records include:


 * Original wills, 1503-1857
 * Registered wills, 1449-1858
 * Original administrations, inventories, tuitions, etc., 1662-1858

Records are on microfilm and are available at the Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies service in Cambridge, at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and through family history centers. The Family History Library has the following:


 * Wills and administrations of the Diocese of Ely, 1449-1858
 * Probate records, 1612-1841 (mostly unregistered administrations, bonds, and inventories)
 * Bonds and inventories, 1587-1858

Indexes
Indexes are found with the original and microfilmed records as above. In addition, the Family History Library has the following transcripts and indexes:


 * Calendar of Norwich consistory administrations, 1519-1858
 * Index of wills proved in the Consistory Court of Norwich, 1819-1857 : and now preserved in the Norfolk Record Office
 * Index to Norfolk (England) wills, 1838-1858