Court of the Bishop of Ely (Episcopal Consistory)

England Bedfordshire Probate Records, Cambridgeshire Probate Records

Bedfordshire
The Archdeaconry of Bedfordshire had primary probate jurisdiction over most of Bedfordshire. It was part of the Diocese of Lincoln and was transferred to the Diocese of Ely in 1837. Therefore, the Court of the Bishop of Ely (Episcopal Consistory) had secondary jurisdiction over most of Bedfordshire from 1837 on. The exceptions were the peculiars of Biggleswade and Leighton Buzzard. This court should be searched after the Archdeaconry court.

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: