Court of the Peculiar of Biggleswade

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. This article explains about probates and how to get started to search for a will.

Beginning in 1858, authority over probate matters was taken from ecclesiastical courts and put under the civil authority of the Principal Probate Registry.

Step by Step
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry. 2. Proceed to the "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court. Also see "Family History Library Records". 3. Contact or visit the Bedford County Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. The record office offers a research service if you prefer. 4. Visit The Family History Library, orone of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records; then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the original wills and admons also on microfilm via any centers near you.

Printed and Published Indexes
Cirket, Alan F., Joan Stuart, and Peggy Wells. Index of Bedfordshire probate records, 1484-1858. London : British Record Society, c1993. (FS Library book 942 B4b, vols 104 &amp; 105). Includes indexes of place names and trades and conditions. The abbreviations are explained on the last page of the Introduction to the book. If the index entry is not for the Archdeaconry of Bedford, then you will be able to determine the court by looking at the list of abbreviations. Find the appropriate microfilm number by looking in the FamilySearch Catalog under Bedfordshire and the subject-Probate Records. On the film find year and then the number i.e. LB 1792/94.

The records may include indexes.

List of Archives
Bedfordshire &amp; Luton Archives &amp; Records Service (BLARS)

County Hall Cauldwell Street

BEDFORD MK42 9AP

Telephone:- U.K. 01234 228833/228777

Overseas +44 1234 228833/228777

Fax:- U.K. 01234 228854

Overseas +44 1234 228854

E-mail address:- archive@bedscc.gov.uk



Archive Location
Probate records exist 1540-1858 with index 1712-1858 through the Bedford Record Office:

Bedfordshire &amp; Luton Archives &amp; Records Service (BLARS)

County Hall Cauldwell Street BEDFORD MK42 9AP

Telephone:- U.K. 01234 228833/228777 Overseas +44 1234 228833/228777

Fax:- U.K. 01234 228854 Overseas +44 1234 228854

E-mail address:- archive@bedscc.gov.uk

They can also be found through the Family History Library and Family History Centers

Archive Records
Add information about the manuscript, printed and digital records in this location.

Family History Library Records

 * Rental agreements, title abstracts, portions of wills and estate settlements, indentures, transcripts of court testimonies and legal notes dating from the mid 18th to late 19th centuries.

Jurisdiction
This court, also called the Prebendal Court of Biggleswade (a prebend of the Cathedral of Lincoln), had jurisdiction over the parish of Biggleswade only.