Court of the Archdeaconry of Salisbury

Return to the Wiltshire Probate Records page. Return to the Somerset Probate Records Page

Step By Step
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will or administration (admon), writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry. 2. Proceed to the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Wiltshire 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. Visit The Family History Library, or, one 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.

Online Indexes
Here are two websites providing online indexes to Wiltshire Wills:


 * The Wiltshire County Record Office's online Will Index 1540-1858
 * Genuki provides a gateway to these 1000 abstract Wills

Indexes in The Family History Library

 * Indexes Catalogue of Wills 1800-1858
 * Calendar of Wills Inventories 1528-1799

Archive Location
Wiltshire and Swindon Archives

Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre

Cocklebury Road

Chippenham

Wiltshire SN15 3QN

ENGLAND

Email: [mailto:archives@wiltshire.gov.uk archives@wiltshire.gov.uk]

Tel: 44 (0)1249 705500

Fax: 44 (0)1249 705527 Website

Probate Records of This Court Held in This Archive
Original Wills &amp; Administrations &amp; Inventories 1597-1854

Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library
Registered Wills 1538-1635 

Original Wills 1552-1857

Act Books 1572-1620

Jurisdictions
The Courts of the Archdeacons of Sarum and of Wiltshire and also the Court of the Archdeacon of the sub-dean of Salisbury Cathedral held jurisdiction over the southern portion of Wiltshire and were inhibited triennually by the Court of the Bishop of Salisbury.