Episcopal Consistory Court of Exeter

England &gt; Devonshire &gt; Devonshire Probate Records, Cornwall Probate Records

The Court of the Bishop of Exeter (Episcopal Consistory) had jurisdiction over the whole of the diocese when there was not "bona notabilia' within two or more subordinate courts, and 22 Cornish parishes which were peculiars of the Bishop. Virtually all the records of this court were destroyed in 1942.

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 "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Cornwall County 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
Devonshire Wills online

Cornwall Wills online (see "Probate Records")

Printed and Published Indexes
Index to early Exeter wills 1286-1400

Calendars of wills and administrations of Devon and Cornwall : 1532-1800

Calendar of wills, administrations and accounts 1569-1799

Cornish probate records at Cornwall Record Office, 1800-1857

Archives Location
Devonshire Record Office Great Moor House Bittern Road Sowton EXETER Devon EX2 7NL Tel: +44 (0)1392 384253 +44 (0)1392 384256 devrec@devon.gov.uk Website

Archive Records
Abstracts of Testamentary, Administrations and Accounts of Administrators 1532-1857

Probate Inventories &amp; Administration Papers 16th to 19th Century

Inventories 1531-1699 in Deveon And Cornwall Record Society New Series vol 11

Family History Library Records
Wills and probate records, 1578-1700

Temerary (deceased estates) administrations, 1715-1838

Legacy causes, 1725-1829, 1693-1845

Original Wills, Administrations &amp; Inventories 1579-1859

Account causes, 1668-1845

Jurisdiction
This court held jurisdiction over most of the following counties of Cornwall and Devonshire parishes: