Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (London Division)

Step By Step

 * 1) Search the index at Ancestry. If the desired digitized will is not found, proceed to Step 2.
 * 2) Next search each index(see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.
 * 3) Proceed then to "Records" section (see below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.
 * 4) Contact or visit The London Metropolitan Archives and Library, or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the index[es]. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.
 * 5) The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you.

Indexes
The Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London probate records have to some extent been indexed in:

Online Indexes

 * London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 at Ancestry (£) includes Commissary Court of London. Images and indexes.


 * London &amp; Middlesex Will Abstracts 1700-1704 at Origins.net (£). Includes abstracts of original wills proved in the Commissary Court of London.

Printed and Published Indexes

 * 1374-1700
 * of copy wills, Commissary Court of London [London division], registered wills, 1750-1857
 * Index to testamentary records in the Commissary Court of London (London Division) 1374-1700 by Marc Fitch, available at Society of Genealogists, The Guildhall Library, London Metropolitan Archives and Library, The Family History
 * A comprehensive will and admon index to most of London's (including Greater L.) probate courts for the years covering 1750-1858 for surnames A-E, is Dr David Wright's London Probate Index on CD and is available; surnames A-F are located on the findmypast web site. He will provide a search service in his indexes for surnames covering from G-Z at a set fee.

Original handwritten indexes:

Court probate inventories, 1662-1747 with surnames alpha-arranged

Probate and administration act book, 1496-1857

Calendar of Probate &amp; Administrations acts 1660-1810

Microfilmed indexes available at the FamilySearch Library:

The following indexes and abstracts to the wills for this court are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you. :


 * , 1750-1857
 *  1374-1700
 * to Copy Wills and Administrations (Admons) 1374-1857
 * with index 1374-1521

Archive Location
London Metropolitan Archives 40 Northampton Road London EC1R 0HB ENGLAND Tel: (020) 7332 3820 Fax: (020) 7833 9136 E-Mail: [mailto:ask.lma@corpoflondon.gov.uk ask.lma@corpoflondon.gov.uk]

Opening Times: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am - 4.45pm Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am - 7.30pm Saturday openings: 9.30am - 4.45pm

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

Calendars of Copy Wills &amp; Administrations 1374-1857

Original Wills 1523-1857

Register Copy Wills 1374-1857 (with gaps)

Probate &amp; Administration Act books 1496-1857 (with gaps)

Administration 1670-1857

Inventories 1666-1667, 1672-1857 (with gaps)

Deposition Books 1537-1722

Personal Answers 1675-1736

Warrants 1660-1772

Ex Officia Assignation Books 1712-1811

Instance Act Books 1570-1675

FamilySearch Library Records
1374-1857

1523-1857

1374-1857 (with gaps)

1496-1857 (with gaps)

1669-1857

1666-1667, 1672-1857 (with gaps)

1660-1772

1585-1857

1537-1722

1630-1811

1570-1675

1581-1593

1673-1857

Jurisdiction
The Commissary Court of London (London Division) had jurisdiction over 94 parishes in Greater London (Middlesex)--including 50 parishes within the City of London proper and 44 out in the county of Middlesex. When a search of this courts’ probate records fails to provide the desired probate record, be sure to search the Consistory Court of the Bishop of London as well.