Peculiar Court of the Manor of Barston

Return to the Warwickshire 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 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. You can also visit The FamilySearch Library,or, one of its 4,500 satellite FamilySearch centers worldwide and search indexes and wills (see the FamilySearch Library's providing the microfilm numbers so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you more quickly search the wills and admons which can also be circulated on microfilm via any family history.

Indexes
Surviving wills and admons to the Peculiar Court of Barston have to some extent been indexed with the following ones:

Printed and Published Indexes
The British Record Society's Index Library published a calendar for earlier years up to 1790 in, which may be accessed at many major archives in the United Kingdom, such as The National Archives, The British Library, etc.

Microfilmed Indexes at the FamilySearch Library

The indexes as listed in the above are also available in the collection of The FamilySearch Library and they are on microfilm and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers worldwide.

In addition, the FamilySearch Library has a on microfilm that partially indexes the surnames (by first letter of surname only) available for the years from.

Archives Location
The original records are deposited at:

Lichfield Record Office (formerly Lichfield Joint Record Office) The Friary' Lichfield Staffs WS13 6QG England Telephone: U.K. 01543 510720 Overseas: (+44) 1543 510720 E-mail:

Opening hours Accessibility features

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 9am-5.30pm

Wednesday: 9am-5.30pm

Thursday: 9am-5.30pm

Friday: 9am-5pm

Saturday: 9am-12.30pm

Sunday: Closed

Obtaining a copy of a probate record:

Archive Records
You may visit the Lichfield Record Office or contact their research service and request a copy of a probate record (include an index reference in your request).

Original Wills &amp; Admons &amp; Inventories 1675-1875

Start your search in indexes.

FamilySearch Library Records
The records which have been microfilmed and are available at the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City and through one of the more than 4,500 FamilySearch centers worldwide include the following:

Jurisdiction
The Court of the Peculiar of Barston held jurisdiction over the parish. When a search of this courts’ probate records fails to provide the desired probate record, be sure to search the Consistory Court of Lichfield as well as the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

You can also visit The FamilySearch Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite FamilySearch centers worldwide and search indexes (see the FamilySearch Library's cataloged entries providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you more quickly search the wills and admons which can also be circulated on microfilm via any family history.

This peculiar court held jurisdiction over the parish of Barston.

During the Commonwealth Interregnum from 1653 to 1660, the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the form of a civil court, had sole probate or testmentary jurisdiction over all of England and Wales.