Court of the Peculiar of the Prebend of Wetwang

A general explanation of probate records in England, is given in the article England Probate Records.Click to read definitions of the words peculiar and prebend.

Description
Probate is the legal court process by which the estate of a deceased person is distributed to his or her heirs. The term probate refers to a collection of documents, including wills, administrations (also called admons), inventories, and act books. The Church of England ecclesiastical courts had authority for this process until to 1858.

Step By Step
1. Search indexes to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail given in the index.

2. Go to "Records" (below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.

3. Obtain the records to search. Use one of these methods to find indexes and records.


 * Contact or visit the Archive (see below) or hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf.
 * Order microfilm copies of the indexes and records listed in the FamilySearch Library Records (see section below) by visiting the FamilySearch Library or one of its FamilySearch centers and search indexes and records.

Online Indexes
Indexes for 54 peculiar courts, 1383-1883, are available online on BritishOrigins. This is a subscription site.

Printed and Published Indexes
The FamilySearch Library has a calendar, 1658-1709, on film number. Another copy of the calendar is at the end of film. Note: right after the section for probates, 1707-1712, on film 99403 comes a variety of different documents from the jurisdiction of Wetwang. Included are the bishop's transcripts of Elloughton for 1704, five accusations of fornication in 1706, and four marriage licenses for Fridaythorpe and Kirkby Wharfe as well as Wetwang dated 1663-1706.

Archive Location
The records for this court are held in the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research.

Archive Records
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FamilySearch Library Records
The library has original wills, bonds and inventories, 1528-1850 on microfilms 1786551, and 1786552. Each film also includes an index.

A calendar of wills for 1658-1709 can be found on film number 98916, and additional original wills on film. Films can be view in the library or in a family history center. Wills for the 1500s might be found with Beverley.

Jurisdiction
Elloughton, Fimber, Fridaythrope, Kirkby Wharfe, Ulleskelf and Wetwang. See also Prebendal Courts of Fridaythorpe and Ulleskelf.