England, Durham Diocese, Allertonshire Peculiar Administration Bonds and Inventories - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of digitized probate records from the hundred of Allertonshire in Yorkshire for the years 1670-1808. The parishes and chapels of Brampton, Deighton, High Worsall, Kirby Sigston, Northallerton and West Rounton are included in this collection. Some helpful definitions:
 * Hundred: an administrative division (county) that is geographically part of a larger region.
 * Ordinary:an officer of a church or civic authority who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute laws.
 * Peculiar:a parish that is administered by a diocese other than the one where it is actually located. It is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another. In this case, it is several parishes administered by the Diocese of Durham, rather than by the Diocese of York.
 * Bond: a written guarantee that a person will faithfully perform the tasks assigned to him by a probate court. The executor posted a testamentary bond, the administrator posted an administration bond, and the guardian of a minor child posted a bond of tuition or curation.
 * Inventory: list of belongings and their values, including such items as household goods, tools, and personal items. Occupations are often mentioned.

The records in this collection are linked to an index on Durham University's website. Search Durham University Probate Database. Fill in as much information as you know and click on Search Database. This will allow you to view the images.

This collection is sorted by Reference Numbers. For example: DPRI/6/B/1670/C1. The number 1670 refers to the year. The letter after the year "C" refers to the first letter of the surname. The number 1 indicates that there may be more than one person with a surname beginning with that letter. If you already know the approximate year and the surname, you can go directly to the images by visiting the 

You can also access images at Allertonshire Administration Bonds and Inventories Catalogue on the Durham University's website. The names, years, and reference numbers are listed.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Bonds
 * Surname and Given Name of the Participant
 * Age of Participant
 * Gender of Participant
 * Current Residence and Previous Residences
 * Current Occupation

Inventories
 * Name of property owner
 * Address or residence
 * A list of personal assets

Collection Content
This collection primarily contains two types of probate records, namely, bonds and inventories. Probate records of other types may be present in the collection, but in only a very small percentage.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person you are looking for
 * Approximate date of death

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Save or print a copy of the image if possible
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find more. For instance, use the age listed in the record to estimate a year of birth, if that is yet undetermined
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in other records. Particularly useful for research in nineteenth-century England are the England Census, parish registers, and civil registration records
 * Continue to search the collection to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person
 * Check for variants of given names and surnames
 * For much of the period of this collection, spelling was not standardized; pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
 * Simple clerical errors were also always possible
 * Individuals were often listed under a middle name, a nickname, or an abbreviation of their given name
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches. Alternatively, try expanding the date range
 * Search the records of nearby locations
 * Tyne, Wear, and Northumberland to the north
 * Cumbria to the west
 * North Yorkshire to the south

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in Durham.
 * Durham Guided Research
 * England Record Finder
 * England Research Tips and Strategies

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

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