Court of the Bishop of Salisbury (Episcopal Consistory)

England Wiltshire Probate Records, Berkshire Probate Records, 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 "Records" (below) to determine what 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

Printed and Published Indexes

 * Calendar of Original &amp; Registered Wills 1500-1857 Note: Wills are alpha-arranged in this collection series.
 * Wills Beneficiaries Index 1800-1854
 * Index Wills at Salisbury 1464-1858

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

Archive Records
They include:


 * Original wills, administrations and inventories, 1493-1857
 * Bonds &amp; Inventories 16th through 18th Centuries
 * Register Copy Wills 1451-1739
 * Probate &amp; Administration Act Books 1661-1858

You may contact the archives for assistance. Also see their online index below.

Family History Library Records
Many of the records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library and through family history centers and they include following:


 * Wills, administrations, and inventories, 1526-1857 (with indexes)
 * Original Wills &amp; Administrations 1500-1857
 * Register Copy Wills 1557-1804
 * Calendars 1526-1799

Jurisdiction
This court was also known as the Court of the Bishop of Sarum (Episcopal Consistory).

The Court of the Bishop of Salisbury (Sarum) held jurisdiction over: The Archdeaconry Courts of Berkshire, Salisbury, Wiltshire and the Sub-Dean of Salisbury, during triennial inhibition; all rectors in the diocese, Bishop's Peculiars of Berwick St. James, Devizes St. John and St. Mary, West Lavington, Marlborough St. Mary and St. Peter, Preshute, Potterne, Stert, and Trowbridge with Staverton. (This information came from Wills and their whereabouts by Anthony J. Camp.)