Court of the Bishop (Consistory) of the Archdeaconry of Taunton

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 "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The FamilySearch Library". 3. Contact or visit the Somersetshire 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 the original wills and admons available online at a local FamilySearch center or affiliate library near you.

Online Index
Here is an online index of Somersetshire wills 1796-1857

Printed and Published Indexes
Here is a list of published indexes available at the FamilySearch Library.



Also try the following indexes at the FamilySearch Library:

Important Note:
The records of the Consistory Court of the Archdeaconry of Taunton, which were deposited at the Probate Registry at Exeter, were destroyed by enemy action during World War II. The following is information on the few records that survive.

Archive Location
The surviving original records are deposited at:

Somerset Archives and Local Studies Somerset Heritage Centre Brunel Way Langford Mead Norton Fitzwarren Taunton U.K. TA2 6SF England Tel: (0)1823 278805 Email: [mailto:somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk] Direct link to the archive catalogue can be found at here.

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


 * Wills 1610-1765
 * Inventories 1610-1754 (few before 1634)
 * Administrators' accounts 1637-1737

FamilySearch Library Records
The FamilySearch Library has very few original probate records for Somerset on microfilm. The few that exist include:



See also the information found in the article on the Court of the Bishop of Bath & Wells (Episcopal Consistory).

The Society of Genealogists in London has copies of published abstracts of wills and other probate documents for Somerset. To see a list of titles, search their library catalogue for the Subject of "Somerset - General:Wills."

Jurisdiction
The Archdeaconry was part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Archdeaconry had probate jurisdiction over all of western Somerset, basically from the River Parrett west, with the exception of some parishes under the jurisdiction of peculiar courts.