Court of the Deanery of the Arches of London, Croydon, Shoreham (Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury)

Return to the London Probate Records page. Return to the Middlesex 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 "Probates Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Guildhall Library or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers. 4. Or, you can 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 Court of the Deanery of the Arches of London, Croydon, Shoreham (Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury probate records is well-covered with the following indexes:

Printed Indexes

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

Online Indexes
Here is an online index to the Deanery of Croydon and Shoreham at The National Archives at no cost.

Original Handwritten Indexes
There are "typed script" indexes at the Society of Genealogists and at The National Archives at Kew, in Richmond Surrey for all years, 1620-1780

Manuscript indexes exist at the Lambeth Palace Library.

Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library

 * The manuscript indexes of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are on microfilm at The Family History Library covering all years from 1620 to 1780; 1832.
 * These may be viewed at the Family History Library and may be circulated to any one of its satellite Family History Centers.

Lambeth Palace Library
Lambeth Palace Road

London SE1 7JU

Tel: + 44 (0)20 7898 1400 Fax: + 44 (0)20 7928 7932 E-mail: lpl.staff@c-of-e.org.uk Post: The Librarian, Lambeth Palace Library, London, SE1 7JU, UK

Website

2.
Centre for Kentish Studies

Sessions House

County Hall Maidstone Kent ME14 1XQ

Probates Records Held in This Archive
To access these records, either write to or visit the above address. Officials there may provide a list of record searchers upon request.

Deanery of The Arches of London
Original Wills 1624-1777

Registered Wills 1664-1821, 1841

Calendars (first-letter-of-surname index) 1672-1837

Caveat Books 1664-1831

Bonds &amp; Warrants 1663-1781 (Bonds Alpha Arranged)

Original Wills, Inventories &amp; Bonds 1620-1780; 1832

Probate &amp; Administration Act Books 1664-1841

Deaneries of Croydon and Shoreham
Registered Wills 1664-1685; Arches, Croydon &amp; Shoreham 1685-1841

Original Wills, Inventories &amp; Bonds 1602, 1614-1841

Probate &amp; Administration Act Books 1629-1841

Caveat Books 1664-1831

Records Held in The Family History Library
Here is a breakdown of those probate records for this court which are held at The Family History Library. These are on microfilm and they may be accessed at the Library or they may be circulated to any of its satelite Family History Centers worldwide.

Deanery of The Arches of London
Original Wills 1624-1777

Index to Testamentary &amp; other records for London 1620-1780; 1832

Act Book 1664-1832

Caveat Books 1664-1825

Bonds &amp; Warrants 1663-1781 Bonds are alpha arranged

Inventories &amp; Bonds 1620-1780; 1832

Deaneries of Croydon and Shoreham
Calendar to Inventories (no years given)

Registered Wills 1664-1821; 1841

Original Wills, 1602, 1614-1841

Inventories &amp; Bonds 1664-1734

Bonds &amp; Warrants 1665-1816

Caveat Books 1664-1825

Act Book 1664-1832

Historical Background
Probate records of the Court of the Deanery of the Arches of London, Croydon, Shoreham (Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury) held jurisdiction over an extensive region of Middlesex, London, Surrey, and Kent (some in and outside of what is considered Greater London). The following 13 parishes lay within the City of London. These thirteen (city) parishes include:


 * All Hallows Bread Street
 * All Hallows Lombard Street
 * St Dionis Backchurch
 * St Dunstan-in-the-East
 * St John the Evangelist Watling St
 * St Leonard Eastcheap
 * St Mary Aldermary
 * St Mary Bothaw
 * St Mary le Bow
 * St Michael Crooked Lane
 * St Michael Royal
 * St Pancras Soper Lane
 * St Vedast Foster Lane

This court also held concurrent jurisdiction over the following Middlesex parishes:


 * Harrow-on-the-Hill with Pinner
 * Hayes with Norwood

And the Court held concurrent jurisdiction over the following Surrey (London) parishes as well:


 * Croydon
 * Newington St Mary
 * Newington Trinity Church
 * Putney
 * Walworth St Peter
 * Wimbledon

Strategies, Tips, Other?
There are some indexes for this court. See the above general countywide indexes. To view a list of parishes and their respective probate court jurisdiction, see the "London Probate Jurisdictions by Parish" on the main page for London Probate Records.