Court of the Dean and Chapter of Salisbury

Dorset 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 the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Wiltshire 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 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 centers near you.

Online Indexes
Here are two websites providing online indexes to Wiltshire Wills:


 * The Wiltshire County Record Office's online Will Index 1540-1858
 * Genuki provides a gateway to these 1000 abstract Wills

Indexes in The Family History Library

 * Wills Beneficiaries Index 1800-1854

Archive Location
The original records are deposited at the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives and History Centre.

Probate Records of This Court Held in This Archive
They include:


 * Original wills, administrations and inventories, 1600-1857

Probate Records of This Court In The Family History Library
Original Wills &amp; Administrations 1625-1638

Jurisdiction
This court had jurisdiction in Bishops Cannings with Southbroom, Britford, and Homington. Jurisdiction uninhibited.