Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey)

Return to the Middlesex Probate Records page. Return to the London Probate Records page.

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 "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Westminster City Archives, 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 family history centers near you.

Probate Indexes
The Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster probate records is partially-covered with the following indexes:

Printed Indexes
The Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (Abbey) has no formal indexes published at this time from this court.


 * A comprehensive will and admon index to London (including Greater L.) for the years covering 1750-1858 and surnames from A-F, is Dr David Wright's London Probate Index on CD and are now available. He will provide a search service in his indexes for those surnames G-Z for you at set fee.

Original Handwritten Indexes
Calendars to the Probate Acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1504-1829. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations).

In addition to the calendars, a majority of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are alphabetically arranged at the City Archives and are likewise organized on the microfilmed probates for this court at the Family History Library. Visit the Westminster City Archives Department or the Family History Library Catalog under London, England to determine availability of records.

Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library
The following two indexes cover some of this courts' probate records:


 * Calendar of Wills and Admons (Administrations) 1504-1829
 * Act Books with indexes (with surnames and folio numbers) 1566-1807

These indexes are on microfilm at the Family History Library or may be circulated to any of its satellite Family History Centers.

Record Archives With These Records
Westminster City Archives Department

10 St Ann's Street

London SW1P 2DE

Website: The original records of this court are housed at the City of Westminster Archives Centre.

Probate Records at This Archive
Calendar Wills &amp; Administration (admons) 1504-1858

Original Wills 1504-1829

Copy (Registered) Wills 1591-1769

Registers 1504-1609, 1622-1641, 1660-667 at Westminster City Archives only

Administrations 1504-1821

Inventories - But few have survived

Wills &amp; Administrations 1504-1667

Act Books 1566-1807

To access these records, either write to or visit this archive at the above address. Officials at this record office will send a lsit of record searchers to you, on request.

Probates of This Court in The Family History Library
Calendar Wills &amp; Administration (admons) 1504-1829

Original Wills 1662-1829

Registered Wills 1504-1609, 1622-1641, 1660-1667

Wills &amp; Administrations 1504-1667

Act Books 1566-1807

Historical Background
Probate records of the Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster commence from 1504 to 1857. This court holds some jurisdiction over a few (approximately four) of Essex's parishes until 1540 when it passed to the Bishop of London (see this probate court). The four Essex County parishes are: Newport, Creshall (Chrishall), Good Easter (also see this peculiar court) and Maldon St Mary's. By 1828, the jurisdiction was then limited to Maldon St Mary's,(Essex), only.

Strategies, Tips, Other?
See the above general countywide index online (see "online Indexes) or those available through the Family History Library's (see "Printed Indexes) many family history centers worldwide for an index to this court.

To view a list of parishes and their respective probate court jurisdiction, see the "Essex Parishes Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" on the main page for Essex Probate Records.