Court of the Peculiar of the Dean of Chichester

Return to the Sussex Probate Records page.

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 then to the "Probate Records In This Archive" section (see below) to determine what original probate records exist for this court.

3. Contact or visit the Lichfield Record Office (see address below), to hire a professional record searcher to view these records on your behalf, citing information obtained from the indexes (see next heading). 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 and wills (see the Family History Library's cataloged entries providing the microfilm numbers so you can have them circulated to the center near you for searching). 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 probate collection includes a Calendars and indexes to wills, administrations and inventories. A calendar is an index arranged first alphabetically by the beginning letter of a testator's surname and second by date.

Online Indexes
This is a website for which you may request a search to be made.

Printed Indexes
The Index Library has printed an index from 1588-1660

Manuscript Indexes in The Family History Library
Calendars of Wills &amp; Admons 1509-1660

Index to Original Wills 1588-1858

Archives Location
The East Sussex Record Office

The Maltings

Castle Precincts

Lewes

East Sussex BN7 1YT

ENGLAND

Tel 44-(0)1273 482349

E-Mail: [mailto:archives@eastsussexcc.gov.uk archives@eastsussexcc.gov.uk]

Website

Probate Records of This Court Held In This Archive
These records include:

Original Wills 1588-1681; 1750-1773

Administrations (Admons) 1751-1857 (Admons are added in with Registered Wills after 1714)

Registered Copy Wills 1682-1858

Indexes 1588-1660; 1682-1858

Probate Records of This Court In The Family History Library
These have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through family history centers. They include:

Original Wills &amp; Administrations (Admons) 1588-1858

Registered Wills &amp; Admons 1588-1858

Inventories and Bonds 1730-1836

Caveat Book 1728-1858

Compotus Rolls 1722-1723

Index to Original Wills 1588-1858

Jurisdiction
This peculiar court held concurrent jurisdiction over the following East Sussex parishes: Chichester All Saints Horsham (part) East Lavant Pagham Patching Slindon Tangmere West Tarring inluding Durrubgton & Heen

== The Records ==

Archives Location
The original records are deposited at:

West Sussex County Council

County Hall

West Street

Chichester

West Sussex PO19 1RQ

ENGLAND

Tel 44-[0]1243 777100

Probate Records of This Court Held in This Archive
Oroiginal Wills 1580-1858 Registered Will 1516-1567; 1622-1642; 1678-1858 Admionistration Bonds 1579-1857 Probate Accounts 1610-1643 Indexes 1516-1857

Probate Records of This Court in The Family History Library
Original Wills 1706-1858Probate Accounts 1610-1686 Probate Acts 1537-1553 Admon Acts 1576-1578 Calendar from Original Bonds 1670-1689 E-mail