Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury

England Kent  Kent Probate Records

Getting Started: 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.&amp;lt;br&amp;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".&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;

3. Contact or visit Centre for Kentish Studies or,&amp;amp;nbsp;hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.&amp;lt;br&amp;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;amp;nbsp;then with the information obtained from the index[es] you can search more quickly the&amp;amp;nbsp;original wills and admons also&amp;amp;nbsp;on microfilm via any&amp;amp;nbsp;centers&amp;amp;nbsp;near you.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;

Printed Indexes
Here is a list of printed indexes for this court which are available through the Family History Library. Click on a link to the record in the library catalog. These indexes can be accessed through interlibrary-loan at family history centers located throughout the world.

List of Archives
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

Records at Family History Library
Probate records for the Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury, 1449-1858

Wills, account papers, inventory papers, etc., 1450-1858

Probate records, 1550-1858 Act Books, Temporary Admons, Index of Accounts 1568-1699 Index of Act Books 1550-1582

Probate records for Canterbury, 1592-1701

Weald of East Kent : will abstracts from the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Kent 

Jurisdictions: Notes on the Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury
The Court of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury had primary jurisdiction over most of the eastern half of the county of Kent, basicially from the city of Maidstone eastward. Some parishes in the eastern half, including Maidstone, were under the primary jurisdiction of the Consistory Court of Canterbury. See the parish jurisdiction lists for specifics.

Jurisdiction includes 216 parishes in the Diocese of Canterbury. Register copy wills for 1471-1546 covers only Ash, Goodnestone, Nonington, Wingham & Womenswould.