Consistory Court of London

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 Held in This Archive" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit the Essex County 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. The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you.

Probate Indexes of This Court
First search the index (see below) to help you more quickly find a will.

The Consistory Court of London probate records have to some extent been indexed with the following ones:

Online indexes
The Metropolitan Archives and Library is currently compiling and posting online a will surname index covering wills and administrations from 1363 to 1857. Currently, it is only a (partial) index for this probate court covering much of Middlesex County and is available online.

Printed and Published Indexes

 * A probate index for the Consistory Court of London from 1363 to 1700 has been compiled by the British Record Society in its extensive publications (vols 89 and 98). These publications are likely available in most major United States (especially university libraries) and United Kingdom Archives and libraries as well as in The Family History.
 * A comprehensive will and admon index to most of London's (including Greater L.) probate courts for the years covering 1750-1858, is Dr David Wright's London Probate Index on CD and is on sale. He will perform "lookups" in his indexes for you for surnames covering from G-Z at a set fee.

Original Handwritten Indexes
to Wills (1362 to 1858), and Index to probate registers (1514-1641), to this Probate court exist covering acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons). Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations).

The above calendars can be accessed by visiting The London Metropolitan Archives and Library. To view what precise probate records they hold before visiting [their archives], go to Access2Archives and use their search engine for determining availability of records in The LMA.

Indexes at the FamilySearch Library
The indexes and original records have been digitized and are available at a FamilySearch centre or a FamilySearch affiliate library near you.

Archives Location
The London Metropolitan Archives &amp; Library

40 Northampton Road

London EC1R 0HB

ENGLAND

Tel: (020) 7332 3820 Fax (020) 7833 9136

E-Mail: ask.lma@corpoflondon.gov.uk

Website is available:

Opening Times: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am - 4.45pm Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am - 7.30pm

Saturday openings: 9.30am - 4.45pm

Check website for specific saturdays to be open.

Records Held in This Archive

 * Calendar and Index of Wills 1362-1814
 * Wills and administrations 1514-1640
 * Registered copies of wills 1520-1857
 * Inventories
 * Vicar General Books - 1520- 1685
 * Indexes - 1362-1857

For access to these records, e-mail the archive for a list of record searchers or visit the archive according to their scheduled opening hours.

Probates records in this at the FamilySearch Library
Search the following probate records in the order listed below:


 * 1) Registered Wills 1514-1857
 * 2) Original wills, 1507-1546, 1552-1751
 * 3) Calendars and index of wills, v. 1-2 1362-1858
 * 4) Index to registers, 1514-1641
 * 5) Registered Copy of Wills vols. 1-4 1514-1559
 * 6) Calendar and Index of Wills vols 1-9

Historical Background
Return to the Middlesex Probate Records page.

The Episcopal Consistory Court of the Bishop of London had jurisdiction over the whole diocese of London except the peculiars–including a concurrent jurisdiction with the smaller Archdeaconry courts of London and Middlesex, Colchester (Essex) and St Albans (Herts.). When a search of this courts’ probate records fails to provide the desired probate record, be sure to search the above Archdeaconry courts as well.

Strategies, Tips, Other?
See the above general countywide index online (see "online Indexes) or those available through the FamilySearch Library's (see "Printed Indexes) many FamilySearch centers worldwide for an index to this court.

To view a list of parishes and their respective probate court jurisdiction, see the "Middlesex Parishes and Their Probate Jurisdictions" on the main page for Middlesex Probate Records.