Court of the Royal Peculiar of Ilminster

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. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The FamilySearch Library."

3. Contact or visit the Somersetshire 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 FamilySearch Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite FamilySearch 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 Index
Here is an online index of Somersetshire wills 1796-1857

Printed and Published Indexes


Also try the following indexes at the FamilySearch Library:

Important Note:
The records of this court, which were deposited at the Probate Registry at Exeter, were destroyed by enemy action during World War II. The following is information on the few records that survive.

Archives Location
The surviving original records are deposited at:

Somerset Archives and Local Studies Somerset Heritage Centre Brunel Way Langford Mead Norton Fitzwarren Taunton U.K. TA2 6SF Tel: (0)1823 278805 Email: [mailto:somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk]

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


 * Wills 1625-1696
 * Administrations, 1625-1696

FamilySearch Library Records


The FamilySearch Library has very few original probate records for Somerset on microfilm. Most of the what the library has is various volumes of published abstracts. See the information found in the article on the Court of the Bishop of Bath & Wells (Episcopal Consistory).

The Society of Genealogists in London has copies of published abstracts and calendars of wills and other probate documents for Somerset. To see a list of titles, search their library catalogue for the Subject of "Somerset - General:Wills."

Jurisdiction
Ilminster was a peculiar probate court in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. It had jurisdiction over the parish of Ilminster only.