Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Ampleforth

England Yorkshire  Yorkshire Probate Courts

To read a general explanation of probates in England, click here.

Description
Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term probate refers to a collection of documents, including wills, administrations (also called admons), inventories, and act books. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858.

Step By Step
1. Search indexes to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail given in the index.

2. Go to the Archive Records below to determine what original probate records exist for this court.

3. Obtain the records to search. Use one of these methods to find indexes and records.


 * Contact or visit the Archive (see below) or hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf.
 * Order microfilm copies of the indexes and records listed in the Family History Library Records (see section below) by visiting the Family History Library or one of its family history centers and search indexes and records.

Indexes
Indexes for 54 peculiar courts, 1383-1883, are available online on BritishOrigins. This is a subscription site.

The Family History Library film number 98916contains a calendar of wills and administrations for several courts, including Ampleforth, 1601-1858.

Archive Location
The records for this court are held in the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research.

Family History Library Records
The Family History Library has Original wills, bonds, inventories, 1528-1827. Films can be viewed in the library on a family history center.

Jurisdiction
Ampleforth and Heslington were under this court.