Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton

England Somerset  Somerset Probate Records

Jurisdiction
The Archdeaconry was part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Archdeaconry had probate jurisdiction over all of western Somerset, basically from the River Parrett west, with the exception of some parishes under the jurisdiction of peculiar courts.

Important Note:
The records of the Consistory Court of the Archdeaconry of Taunton, which were deposited at the Probate Registry at Exeter, were destroyed by enemy action during World War II. The following is information on the few records that survive. They survive because they were not deposited at the Exeter Registry.

Surviving Records
The surviving original records are deposited at:

Somerset Record Office Obridge Road Taunton TA2 7PU England Tel: (0)1823 278805 Email: [mailto:archives@somerset.gov.uk archives@somerset.gov.uk]

These include:


 * Wills 1610-1765
 * Inventories 1610-1754 (few before 1634)
 * Administrators' accounts 1637-1737

The Family History Library has very few original probate records for Somerset on microfilm. These include:


 * Probate records for manors in the Archdeaconry of Taunton, 1485-1868

See also the information found in the article on the Court of the Bishop of Bath & Wells (Episcopal Consistory).

The Society of Genealogists in London has copies of published abstracts of wills and other probate documents for Somerset. To see a list of titles, search their library catalogue for the Subject of "Somerset - General:Wills."

Indexes
Here is a list of published indexes available at the Family History Library.


 * Calendar of wills and administrations in the court of the Archdeaconry of Taunton, parts I and II, wills only, 1537-1799;
 * Part III Administrations at Taunton 1596-1799; and Part IV for the Royal Peculiar of Ilminster