Court of the Peculiar of the Archdeaconry of York or the West Riding

England Yorkshire  Yorkshire Probate Courts

To read a general explanation of probates in England, click here. Click to read a definition of the word peculiar.

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 has a calendar, 1662-1740 and 1760-1839, on film number 98916 item 4. The calendar is on page 68.

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 records, 1662-1740 and 1760-1839, or film number 99434. Films can be view in the library or in a family history center.

Jurisdiction
Mexborough and Ravenfield. It was inhibited six months at Episcopal Visitation by Chancery Court and at Visitation of Dean and Chapter.