Court of the Bishop of Canterbury

The Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Canterbury had primary jurisdiction over many Parishes in the Eastern part of Kent. From Maidstone Eastward.

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 "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Hampshire Record Office or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers. 4. The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available online at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you.

Online Indexes

 * The East Kent Archealogical Society has created online indexes to East Kent probate records from 1396-1858.
 * Maureen Rawson's Kent Genealogy, including an index to some wills and inventories, through the Freepages on Rootsweb.Ancestry.com.

Printed and Published Indexes
The British Index Library has published indexes to the records of the Consistory and Archdeaconry Courts of Canterbury jointly. These are available at the Kent Archives Services and at the FamilySearch Library (see Records below for both). They are as follows:


 * Wills and administrations 1396-1558, 1640-1650


 * Administrations 1539-1545 and Wills administrations 1558-1577

Archives Location
The records of the Court of the Bishop of Canterbury for 1396-1857 are found at:

Kent Archives Service Sessions house County Hall Maidstone ME14 1XQ ENGLAND Tel. 01622 694363 Fax: 01622 694379 Email: [mailto:archives@kent.gov.uk archives@kent.gov.uk] Website: http://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/archives_and_local_history.aspx

Archive Records
The records include:


 * Original and Copy Wills 1538-1857
 * Register Copy Wills 1396-1857 (some missing years; with indexes)
 * Administration Bonds (Admons) 1660-1857
 * Act Books 1542-1857 (indexed from 1577)
 * Testamentary Bonds 1660-1857
 * Inventory Papers 1596-1748
 * Inventory Registers 1566-69, 1597-1638 (indexed from 1606)
 * Accounts &amp; Inventories 1569-1604
 * Temporary Administrations 1600-42, 1661-78 (indexed)
 * Guardians Registers 1631-1763 (indexed)
 * Caveats 1627-49, 1660-1809 (most indexed)
 * Renunciation Papers 1660-1814
 * Account Registers 1605-39, 1671-90
 * Inventories 1396-1857
 * Testamentary Cause Papers 1595-1646
 * Affidavits, depositions, interrogations, visitation books, and papers and accounts 1555-1857

FamilySearch Library Records
The FamilySearch Library has probate records (with indexes) on microfilm, microfiche and in print. Those available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City include copies and abstracts of the for 1484-1821.


 * (some missing years)
 * (some missing years)
 * (some missing years)

Jurisdiction
The Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Canterbury had primary jurisdiction over many parishes in the eastern part of Kent, from Maidstone eastward. The remaining eastern parishes were under the primary jurisdiction of the Archdeacon of Canterbury (who received his authority from the Bishop of Canterbury).

The Commissary-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury was the judge of the Court of the Bishop (Episcopal Consistory) of Canterbury. He exercised probate jurisdiction within the diocese of Canterbury, and he also exercised the Archbishop’s prerogative throughout the diocese. Therefore, records of probate that would have normally gone through the Archbishop's court, will be found in the records of the Court of the Bishop of Canterbury, particularly before 1759.

After 1837, this court also had jurisdiction over the Surrey parishes of Addington and Lambeth. See Surrey Probate Records.