Chancery Court of the Archbishop of York

England Yorkshire  Yorkshire Probate Courts

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 then to the "Probate Records In This Archive" section (see below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.

3. Contact or visit the Lancashire Record Office to 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.

4. You can also visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the Family History Library's cataloged entries providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you more quickly search the wills and admons which can also be circulated on microfilm via any family history.

Indexes
The Family History Library has indexes and calendars, 1427-1857, on film. The indexes are not complete for every year. They can be viewed in the library or in one of the family history centers worldwide.


 * 1427-1658
 * 1660-1714
 * 1808-1858

Archive Location
The records of this court are held in the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research.

Archive Records

 * Original Wills, Administrations, Inventories and Tuitions, 1535-1858

Family History Library Records
Films can be viewed in the library or in a family history center.


 * Wills, admons and inventories, 1427-1858

Jurisdiction
There is some confusion between the Chancery Court and the Consistory Court. Since the Consistory Court of York left no known probate records, it is presumed that any references to it under the subject of probates refer to instead to the Chancery Court. Apparently there are no registered copy wills or surviving act books for the Chancery Court of York.

The Chancery Court of York was the appeals court in the province of York.

The court also had jurisdiction during archiepiscopal visitations and over beneficed clergy in the diocese of York. Registered copies of wills and probate acts relating to the beneficed clergy are found in the Archbisops' Registers, 1316-1858; grants of probate and administration are entered in the Chancery act books.