Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter 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 the Court of the Peculiar of the Dean &amp; Chapter of Norwich 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 being 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 this index is available in the following publication:


 * Index of wills proved in the Norfolk Archdeaconry Court, compiled by Patrick Palgrave-Moore in FHL book call #942.61 B4m vol. 16. These are probate indexes for the Court of the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich 1416-1857.

Original Handwritten Indexes
Calendars exist from 1600-1857 for wills. These are available on microfilm for this court at the Family History Library (see below). You can access these records at the Norfolk Record Office at the above address. Or these are accessible at the Family History Library or through its Family History Centers worldwide.

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]

Website: http://archives.norfolk.gov.uk/

Probate Records of This Court In This Archive
Calendars 1600-1857

Original Wills 1291-1 944

Registered copy Wills 1572-1857

Will Registers 1444-1558

Administration Act Books 1613-1618

Administrations 1737-1857

Probate Inventories 1681-1782

Probate Records of This Court In The Family History Library
Calendars 1600-1857

Original Wills 12891-1944

Registered copy Wills 1572-1857

Will Registers 1444-1559

Administration Act Books 1613-1680

Administration Bonds 1706-1735

Administrations 1737-1857

Probate Inventories 1681-1782

Jurisdiction
The Court of the Peculiar of the Dean &amp; Chapter of Norwich held jurisdiction over the following parishes and Cathedral in County Norfolk:

the Precincts of Norwich Cathedral, Arminghall, Catton, Eaton, Hindolveston, Lakenham, Martham, Norwich St. Helen, Norwich St James, Norwich St Paul, Plumstead Magna, Sedgeford, Sprowston, Trowse and West Beckham.

Historical Background
Probate records of the Court of the Peculiar of the Dean &amp; Chapter of Norwich commence from as early as 1529 to1569, 1600-1634, 1636-1651, 1660-1857.