Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury for the Exempt Deanery of South Malling

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 then to "Records" (see below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.

3. Contact or visit the Lichfield Record Office (see address below), to hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the indexes (see next heading). Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.

4. The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you:

Indexes
The probate collection includes a Calendars and indexes to wills, administrations and inventories. A calendar is an index arranged first alphabetically by the beginning letter of a testator's surname and second by date.

Online Indexes
This website($)now has the Probate records for this Court.

Printed and Published Indexes
The Index Library has printed an index from 1588-1660

Manuscript Indexes in The FamilySearch Library


 * . Included are also an index to an additional 216 Sussex Wills. The indexes comprise pages 138-152 Sussex archaeological collections - v. 50 (1907)
 * . Included are also an index to an additional 216 Sussex Wills. The indexes comprise pages 138-152 Sussex archaeological collections - v. 50 (1907)
 * . Included are also an index to an additional 216 Sussex Wills. The indexes comprise pages 138-152 Sussex archaeological collections - v. 50 (1907)

Archives Location
The East Sussex Record Office The Maltings Castle Precincts Lewes East Sussex BN7 1YT ENGLAND Tel 44-(0)1273 482349 E-Mail: [mailto:archives@eastsussexcc.gov.uk archives@eastsussexcc.gov.uk] Website

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


 * Original Wills 1588-1681; 1750-1773
 * Administrations (Admons) 1751-1857 (Admons are added in with Registered Wills after 1714)
 * Registered Copy Wills 1682-1858
 * Indexes 1588-1660; 1682-1858

FamilySearch Library Records
The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you. They include:



Jurisdiction
This peculiar court held concurrent jurisdiction over the following East Sussex parishes:


 * Buxted
 * The Cliffe or St Thomas Lewes
 * Edburton
 * Framfield
 * Glynde
 * Isfield
 * Lindfield
 * Mayfield
 * Ringmer
 * South Malling
 * Stanmer
 * Uckfield
 * Wadhurst

Appeals Courts
Any probate that was disputed and could not be settled by the county courts could be sent to these higher appeals courts:


 * Court of Arches
 * High Court of Delegates

The Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury also served as an appeals court.

Estate Duty Records
Starting in 1796, a tax or death duty was payable on estates over a certain value. Estate duty abstracts may add considerable information not found elsewhere. Estate duty indexes may help you locate a will. For more information, go to Estate Duty Records.