Court of the Commissary of the Bishop of London (London Division)

[Return to the London Probate Records page.]

Location of These Probate Records
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

2009:

January 10        May 9         September 12 January 24         June 13       September 26

February 14      June 27       October 10 February 28       July 11        October 24 March 14           July 25        November 28 March 28           August 8     December 12 April 25             August 22

Historical Background
Return to the Middlesex Probate Records page.

The Commissary Court of London (London Division) had jurisdiction over 94 parishes in Greater London (Middlesex) and the City--including 50 parish within the City of London proper and 44 in the county of Middlesex. When a search of this courts’ probate records fails to provide the desired probate record, be sure to search the Consistory Court of the Bishop of London as well.

Starting Your Search in Indexes
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 then to the "Probate Records of This Court" section (see below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court. 3. Contact or visit The London 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. 4. You can also 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.

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

Printed and Published Indexes

 * Abstracts of copy wills, Commissary Court of London [London division], registered wills, 1750-1857
 * Index to testamentary records in the Commissary Court of London (London Division) 1374-1700 by Marc Fitch, available at Society of Genealogists, The Guildhall Library, London Metropolitan Archives and Library, The Family History Library
 * A comprehensive will and admon index to most of London's (including Greater L.) probate courts for the years covering 1750-1858 for surnames A-F, 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
Court probate inventories, 1662-1747 with surnames alpha-arranged

Probate and administration act book, 1667-1675

Calender of Probate &amp; Administrations acts, vols. 1-16, 1660-1810

Microfilmed Indexes at the Family History Library
The indexes as listed in the above are also available covering the years 1662-1810 at The Family History Library and they are on microfilm and may be circulated to each of its satellite Family History Centers worldwide.

Searching for probates in this court.
ORIGINAL WILLS

1523-1857

REGISTER COPY WILLS

1374-1857 (with gaps)

PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION ACT BOOKS

1496-1857 (with gaps)

ADMINISTRATIONS

1670-1857

INVENTORIES

1666-1667, 1672-1857 (with gaps)

DEPOSITION BOOKS

1537-1722

PERSONAL ANSWERS

1675-1736

EX OFFICIO ASSIGNATION BOOKS

1712-1811

INSTANCE ACT BOOKS

1570-1675

Strategies, Tips, Other?
See the above Indexes or those available through the Family History Library or its many family history 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.