Court of the Bishop of Carlisle (Episcopal Consistory)

England Cumberland Probate Records or Westmorland Probate Records

For a general explanation about probate records in England, click here.

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.&lt;br&gt;

2. Proceed to the "Probate Records Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. Also see "Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library".&lt;br&gt;

3. Contact or visit the&amp;nbsp;Carlisle Record Office or,&amp;nbsp;hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.&lt;br&gt;

4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes to probate records;&amp;nbsp;then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the&amp;nbsp;original wills and admons also&amp;nbsp;on microfilm via any&amp;nbsp;centers&amp;nbsp;near you.&lt;br&gt;

Indexes
Comprehensive indexes are available through the Cumbria Archive Servicesin the Carlisle and the Kendal offices. The indexes cover from 1617 to 1941, listing the year of probate and the residence of the deceased. This is extraordinarily helpful in distinguishing between many individuals of the same name.

The Family History Library has indexes, 1563-1858, on film. Some indexes are on films containing wills, administrations and inventories.

Archive Location
The original records are deposited at the Carlisle Record Office (part of the Cumbria Archive Service). The Cumbria Archives Service provides a research service for a fee.

Archive Records

 * Original wills, administrations, and inventories, 1558-1644, 1661-1858
 * Register copy wills, 1727-1858
 * Act books, 1661-1858

Family History Library Records
The Family History Library has film copies of these records. Films can be viewed in the library or in a family history center.

Jurisdiction
This court covered the northern part of Westmorland and all of Cumberland expect the Deanery of Copeland in the southwest of the county (see the Court of the Archdeaconry of Richmond Western Deaneries - Copeland).