Court of the Archdeaconry of London

Step By Step

 * 1) Search the index at Ancestry. If the desired digitized will is not found, proceed to Step 2.
 * 2) First search each index(see below) to help you more quickly find the will, writing down each detail cited in the indexed entry.
 * 3) Proceed then to "Records" section (see below) to determine what probate records exist for this court.
 * 4) Contact or visit The Metropolitan Archives and Library, or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the index[es]. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.
 * 5) You can also visit The FamilySearch Library, or one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the FamilySearch Library's providing the microfilms so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching the wills). The information obtained from the index[es] will help you  more quickly search the wills and admons which can also be circulated on microfilm via any family history.

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

Online indexes

 * London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858 at Ancestry (£) includes Archdeaconry Court of London.


 * 1700-1807 Archdeaconry Court of London Wills Index 1700-1807, National Wills Index, British Origins (£)


 * London &amp; Middlesex Will Abstracts 1700-1704 at Origins.net (£). Includes abstracts of original wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of London.

A general will index (partial) for this probate court covering much of Middlesex County, including London, is available onlinefor a fee.

Printed and Published Indexes
The Metropolitan Archives and Library compiled and published a complete surname index covering wills and administrations from 1363 to 1786.


 * 1363-1700 -

A probate index for the Archdeaconry 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 including The Family History.


 * 1700-1807 - Webb, Cliff. An Index of Wills Proved in the Archdeaconry Court of London, 1700-1807. London: Society of Genealogists Enterprises Ltd., 1996. ; digital version at British Origins (£).


 * 1750-1858 - 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

Original Handwritten Indexes:

to this Probate court exist covering acts of Wills and Administrations (Admons) exist from 1368-1786. Calendars are a kind of index (of the first letter of each surname) to the probate records and admons (administrations).

In addition to the calendars, a majority of the original (unregistered) wills and the registered wills are now alphabetically arranged and housed at The Metropolitan Archives and Library and are likewise organized and available on the microfilmed probates for this court at the FamilySearch Library. Visit The Metropolitan Archives and Library or the FamilySearch Library under London, England to determine availability of records.

Microfilmed Indexes at the FamilySearch Library: 


 * of Wills and Admons (Administrations) are available on microfilm at the FamilySearch Library covering the years 1368-1781 and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of London), or go to this FamilySearch Catalog page.


 * A published index (2 volumes) is available in the Library, called

Archives Location
London Metropolitan Archives 40 Northampton Road Clerkenwell London EC1R 0HB

Telephone: 020 7332 3820 Skype:  020 7332 3820  Email:   [mailto:ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk]  Website:   www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma

Archive Records
To access these records, write to or visit this archive at the above address. Officials of this court will provide a list of record searchers if requested.


 * Calendar Wills &amp; Administrations (Admons) 1368-1781
 * Origial Wills 1524-1718
 * Registered Wills 1368-1807
 * Probate &amp; Admon Acts 1563-1790
 * Examination &amp; Deposition Books 1632-1692
 * "Instance" Book 1636-1648
 * Assignation Books 1635-1781
 * Inventories 1662-1695
 * Caveat Books (mainly testamentary) 1675-1821

FamilySearch Library Records
(admons) 1368-1781  1524-1781  1368-1807  1563-1790  &amp; Deposition Books 1632-1692  1636-1648  1635-1781  (mainly testamentary) 1675-1821  1662-1695

Also, collection called 1617-1807

Jurisdiction
Probate records of the Archdeaconry Court of London commence from as early as 1368 to1786; 1807. As the eighteenth century progressed, the wills of more and more residents who lived in this jurisdiction were proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The last will proved in the Archdeaconry Court of London is dated 1807. This court held some jurisdiction over 42 City of London parishes and also the following eight (8) Middlesex County parishes of Greater London (see "London Parishes and Their Court Jurisdictions" on the London Probate Records page):


 * Clerkenwell St James
 * Clerkenwell St John
 * St John the Baptist, Savoy
 * St Leonard Shoreditch
 * St George the Martyr
 * St Martin in the Fields, Westminster
 * St Andrew Holborn above the Bars
 * St Peter ad Vincula, Tower

British Origins offers a free online list of parishes included within this probate jurisdiction:


 * Parishes covered by the Archdeaconry Court of London