Court of the Peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Deaneries of Arches, Croydon and Shoreham

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 "FamilySearch Library Records."

3. Contact or visit Centre for Kentish Studies 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 Indexes
Lambeth Palace Library has placed an index online to wills proved in this court (1614-1841). It may be found through The National Archives Catalogue using keywords 'Will Shoreham' + place or surname.

Images of the wills may be browsed for free online at FamilySearch.

Printed and Published Indexes
KAO--index to wills, administrations, inventories and bonds of the Archbishops Peculiar Deaneries of Arches (London), Shoreham and Croydon

Archive Location
The Centre for Kentish Studies is the Headquarters for the Kent Archives service. It holds manuscript and printed records for the County of Kent The Centre for Kentish Studies Sessions House County Hall Maidstone ME14 1XQ 01622 694363 fax: 01622 694379 archives@kent.gov.uk

Also available through Lambeth Palace Library, London SE1 7JU England

Archive Records
Add information.

Records at The FamilySearch Library
Church of England. Peculiar Court (Arches, Croydon and Shoreham)1614-1841 This includes indexes, Original Wills, Bonds, Inventories, Administration Bonds and Warrants, Miscellaneous with Account, Act and Caveat Books

Familysearch.org Records of Images 1602-1841
These images are original records of probate, but also include:

Account papers Administration bonds Caveats Guardian registers Inventories Miscellaneous court papers Miscellaneous court papers index Renunciation papers Wills

Jurisdiction
This court had primary jurisdiction over many parishes in the western half of the county of Kent. See the parish jurisdiction lists for specifics. Jurisdiction for the Deanery of Shoreham (Kent): The parishes are: Bexley, Brasted, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Cliffe at Hoo, St. Mary Cray, Crayford, Darenth, Downe, Eynsford, East Farleigh, Farningham, Gillingham, Grain, Halstead, Hayes, Hever, Hunton, Ide Hill, Ilfield, Ightham, Keston, Knockholt, Lidsing, East Malling, Meopham, Northfleet, Orpington, Otford, East Peckham, Penshurst, Plaxtol, Sevenoaks, Shoreham, Stansted, Sundridge, and Wrotham.