Court of the Bishop of Peterborough (Episcopal Consistory)

A general explanation of probate records in England, is given in the article England Probate Records.

Step by Step
1. First search each index (see below) to help you more quickly find the will or administration (admon), writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry. 2. Proceed to "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Herefordshire 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 Indexes
The Northampton and Rutland probate index on findmypast.co.uk includes the Court of the Bishop of Peterborough (Episcopal Consistory Court 1452-1857.

Printed and Published Indexes
The FamilySearch Library has:


 * Indexes found with the probate records for 1541-1858 listed above.
 * Index to.
 * Oundle Wills and Headstones 1820-1858 Complete transcript of records
 * Oundle Wills and Headstones 1820-1858 Complete transcript of records

Archive Location
Northamptonshire Records Office Wootton Hall Park Northampton, NN4 8BQ UK Tel: (0)1604 762129 Email:  [mailto:archivist@northamptonshire.gov.uk archivist@northamptonshire.gov.uk]

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

FamilySearch Library Records
The FamilySearch Library has copies of. The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available online at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you.

Jurisdiction
The Diocese of Peterborough was founded in 1541. From 1541 to about 1598, where there appears to have been a re-organization of the diocese, wills from all deaneries were proved either at Northampton in the archdeacon's court or in the consistory court of Peterborough. After 1598 the wills from the four Eastern deaneries of Oundle, Weldon, Peterborough and Rutland were proven at Peterborough.