Court of the Archdeaconry of Norwich

England Norfolk  Norfolk Probate Records

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.

2. Proceed to the "Probate Records of This Court" (below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.

3. Contact or visit The Guildhall Library, or, hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf. Officials may send upon request a list of record searchers.

4. Visit The Family History Library, or, one of its 4,500 satellite family history centers worldwide and search indexes (see the Family History Library's cataloged entries 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 Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk probate records have to some extent been indexed with the following ones:

Online indexes
A general will index (partial) for this probate court covering much of the county is available online for the years 1800-1857. More years are bring added so re-visit their website regularly.

Also, Ancestry.co.uk has indexed some probate records abstracts as well.

Printed and Published Indexes
The Norfolk Record Office has indexed a considerable number of the wills from this court jurisdiction and these are available in the following publications:


 * Index of wills proved in the Norfolk Archdeaconry Court, compiled by Patrick Palgrave-Moore in FHL book call #942.61 B4m vol. 3,5 and 10; also on FHL microfilm or, also on microfiche. These are probate indexes for the Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk 1453-1603/4.
 * Index to Norfolk Wills 1838-1858 is also available.

Original Handwritten Indexes
Indexes exist from 1468-1857 for wills. These are available oon microfilm for this court at the Family History Library (see below). Visit The Norfolk Record Office or the Family History Library under Norfolk, England to determine availability of records.

Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library
Indexes of Wills and Admons (Administrations) are available on microfilm at the Family History Library covering the years 1460-1857 and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers (see Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk), or go to the Family History Library Catalog.

Archives Location
Norfolk Record Office

The Archive Centre Martineau Lane Norwich NR1 2DQ

United Kingdom

Telephone: 01603 222599 Fax: 01603 761885 E-mail: [mailto:norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk]

There were over 320 parishes in the Court of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk in the following deaneries:

Blofield, Breckles, Brisley, Flegg, Holt, Lynn, Ingworth, Norwich, Sparham, Taverham, Toftrees, Walsingham and part of Thetford.

Probate Records of This Court Held in This Archive
Calendars 1469-1857

Original Wills 1530-1857

Registered Copy Wills 1469-1857

Wills Registers 1538-1857

Administration Act Books 1590-1680

Administrations 1682-1857

Probate Inventories 1674-1825

Act Books 1660-1670

Probate Records of This Court In The Family History Library
Calendars 1469-1857

Original Wills 1530-1857

Registered Copy Wills 1469-1857

Wills Registers 1538-1857

Administration Act Books 1590-1680

Administrations 1682-1857

Probate Inventories 1674-1825

Act Books 1660-1670

Historical Background
Probate records of the Archdeaconry Court of Norfolk commence from as early as 1530 to1652 and 1660-1857. This court held jurisdiction over 320 of Norfolk's 756 parishes all in the following deaneries: Blofield, Breckles, Brisley, Flegg, Holt, Ingworth, Lynn, Norwich, Sparham, Taverham, Toftrees, Walsingham, and part of Thetford.