Royal Peculiar Court of St Katherine's by the Tower

Step By Step
1. First searcheach 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. 3. Contact or visit the Principal Probate Registry or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers. 4. The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you.

Archives Location
Guildhall Library Aldermanbury London EC2V 7HH Tel (020) 7332 1862 / (020) 7332 1863 Textphone (020) 7332 3803 Email [mailto:manuscripts.guildhall@cityoflondon.gov.uk manuscripts.guildhall@cityoflondon.gov.uk]

Archive Records
Wills 1729-1800

Calendars 1698-1803

Powers of Attorney &amp; Original Wills 1690-1710

Act Books 1698-1793

Warrants, bonds 1755-1802

Deposition Book in Testmentary Causes 1583-1584

Administration Bonds 1688-1775

Cause Papers 1701-1747; 1777-1804

Assorted Legal Papers 1545-1653; 1745-1798

Loose Bonds 1698-1722

FamilySearch Library Records

 * Additional Wills,

Jurisdiction
London had a small peculiar jurisdiction granted to an important church within diocese of London which claimed immunity from the bishop’s jurisdiction. Called a Royal Peculiar, St Katherine's by The Tower [of London] claimed exemption from all jurisdictions except that of the sovereign. It lies immediately east of the City of London but is considered to be in the county of Middlesex, even with its close proximty next to the city proper.

Probate records of the Royal Peculiar Court St Katherine's by the Tower held jurisdiction over its own premises, including St Katherine's Hospital. However, most testators in this jurisdiction filed their wills with the Prerogative Court of Canterbury between 1750 to 1858.

Records of these probates--includes original as well as registered wills. These records date from as early as 1698.