Court of the Bishop of Salisbury (Episcopal Consistory)

England Wiltshire Probate Records, Berkshire Probate Records

Jurisdiction
This court was also known as the Court of the Bishop of Sarum (Episcopal Consistory).

The Court of the Bishop of Salisbury (Sarum) held jurisdiction over: The Archdeaconry Courts of Berkshire, Salisbury, Wiltshire and the Sub-Dean of Salisbury, during triennial inhibition; all rectors in the diocese, Bishop's Peculiars of Berwick St. James, Devizes St. John and St. Mary, West Lavington, Marlborough St. Mary and St. Peter, Preshute, Potterne, Stert, and Trowbridge with Staverton. (This information came from Wills and their whereabouts by Anthony J. Camp.)

Records
The original records are deposited at the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives and History Centre. They include:


 * Original wills, administrations and inventories, 1584-1857
 * Register copy wills, etc., 1526-1598, 1697-1804

You may contact the archives for assistance. Also see their online index below.

Many of the records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library and through family history centers. They include:


 * Wills, administrations, and inventories, 1526-1857 (with indexes)

Indexes
Search indexes before you search the records.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Archives has an online database index to probate records of the Diocese of Salisbury, for 1540-1858, pertaining to Wiltshire and Berkshire and parts of Dorset and Devon.

Original indexes are found with the original records as above. Microfilmed indexes are available through the Family History Library as above.