Cambridge (CAM)

Jurisdictions

1. Aside from the exceptions listed in 2 below, the majority of the 171 ancient parishes of Cambridge came under (A) the Episcopal Consistory Court of Ely (over 100 parishes) and (B) the Archdeaconry Court of Ely (56 parishes). Any probate research in this county should start with the printed indexes for both courts as the jurisdiction of the consistory overlapped that of the archdeaconry, and some of their records were filed together.
2. If research involves one of the places listed below, match the designated letter in parentheses (C-G) with the subsequent heading in the decision table. Each court should be searched in the order of priority indicated in the decision table.

Decision Table

For those who lived in (A) the Consistory of Ely, Search:

1. Consistory of Ely
2. Prerogative Court of Canterbury (see London: PCC)
3. Court of Arches, 1660- (see London: Arches)
4. Court of Delegates, 1636- (see London: Delegates)

For those who lived in (B) the Archdeaconry of Ely, Search:

1. Archdeaconry of Ely
2. Do 1-4 above for the Consistory of Ely

For those who lived in (C) the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, Search:

1. Archdeaconry of Sudbury (see Suffolk)
2. Consistory of Norwich (see Norfolk)
3. Do 2-4 above for the Consistory of Ely

For those who lived in (D) the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, Search:

1. Archdeaconry of Norfolk (see Norfolk)
2. Consistory of Norwich (see Norfolk)
3. Do 1-4 above for the Consistory of Ely

For those who lived in (E) the Court of the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Search:

1. Court of the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
2. Do 1-5 above for (B) the Archdeaconry of Ely

For those who lived in (F) the Peculiar of Isleham, Search:

1. Peculiar of Isleham
2. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon (see Huntingdon)
3. Consistory of Rochester (see Kent)
4. Consistory of Norwich (see Norfolk)
5. Do 2-4 above for the Consistory of Ely

For those who lived in (G) the Peculiar of Thorney, Search:

1. Peculiar of Thorney
2. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon (see Huntingdon)
3. Do 1-4 above for the Consistory of Ely

For those who lived anywhere in the county between 1653-1660, Search:

1. Prerogative Court of Canterbury (see London: PCC)

For those who lived anywhere in the county between 1812-1857, regardless of what is found in the probate records of any of the above courts, consider searching also the estate duty registers (See London: Estate Duty)

Printed Indexes for the Consistory and Archdeaconry Courts of Ely

1. 1449-1858, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volumes 103, 106, and 107 for the Consistory
   These volumes are part of the Index Library series (BRS) and reference all probate records for this court.
   Volume 103 covers surnames, A-E. Volume 106, F-P. Volume 107, Q-Z.
   Volume 107 includes an index to the probate records of the Dean and Chapter of Ely, 1565-1800, on pages 1218-1221. There is also an index to places on pages 1241-1289 where it is useful to search for the names of other counties. Other counties with 12 or more entries in the Consistory Court of Ely are Essex, Hertford, London, Middlesex, Surrey, and York. Volume 107 ends with an index to stray names on pages 1290-1303.
2. 1513-1857, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 88 for the Archdeaconry of Ely
   This volume is also a part of the Index Library series (BRS) and references all probate records for this court. There is an index to places outside the jurisdiction of the Archdeaconry of Ely on pages 217-113 by county and parish. Other counties with 11 or more entries in the Archdeaconry of Ely are Hertford, Huntingdon, and Suffolk.

Microfilmed Records for the Consistory and Archdeaconry Courts of Ely

The earliest date for the microfilmed collection of registered copy wills for the Consistory Court of Ely is 1449, and 1485 for the original wills. The original wills were filmed twice for the period of 1749-1858. The initial film for all of the wills is FHL 173464. All of the probate records for the Consistory have been microfilmed with the following exceptions occurring in the registered copy wills: volume 18 which covers 1583-1584 and is referred to in the printed index as parvulus liber, and the last volume for 1857-8. The volumes of registered copy wills for 1449-1650 are listed in the FHL catalog under their old designations and have been given new numbers in the printed index. Volumes A-S in the catalog are volumes 1-17 in the printed index, and volumes T-Z are now 19-24. The volumes labeled as Norton, Morley, Dunham, and Fairchild are volumes 25-28 in the printed index. It is easier to find registered copy wills from 1660 forwards by simply matching the year of probate in the printed index with the matching date in the catalog.

The administrations, inventories, guardianship bonds, and other miscellaneous probate records are filed together for the Consistory and Archdeaconry Courts of Ely and were filmed twice. They start as early as 1587. Use the second filming starting with FHL film 2301111. The FHL film 186669 contains 13-14 accounts made by executors, administrators, and guardians mainly between 1633-34 for the Archdeaconry of Ely that do not appear in the printed index for that court. Abstracts exist for the Consistory administrations from 1592-1620. (See the Miscellaneous Section.)

The microfilmed collection of probates for the Archdeaconry of Ely starts with the original wills in 1489, and the registered copy wills begin in 1521. The initial film for all of the wills is FHL 186632. Administrations are included with the registered copy wills through 1611. Also filmed were the registered administrations beginning in 1612 on FHL film 186670. Inventories are filed with the administrations and cover mainly the time period from 1690-1780.

Printed Indexes & Microfilmed Calendars/Records for the 
Peculiar Courts in Cambridge

Peculiar jurisdiction was exercised by the University of Cambridge and the parishes of Thorney in the northwest and Isleham in the east. The records of Isleham are sometimes mixed with those for the neighboring parish of Freckenham in Suffolk.

The printed index for the probate records of the University of Cambridge was published in 1907 and refers only to the registered copy wills, 1501-1765 (FHL 942.59/C1 S2c). There is also a filmed calendar to the registered copy wills and the administrations for the same time period on FHL/BYU film 173454. Likewise, there is a filmed calendar to the original wills at both libraries on film 173455. All three indexes/calendars are considered incomplete or unreliable. All of the probate records for the University of Cambridge were microfilmed except for the inventories. Fortunately, the original wills are in chronological order and each volume of registered copy wills is separately indexed. The accounts are on FHL films 173518 and 173519.

The microfilmed calendar for the Peculiar of Thorney, 1774-1857, is at both libraries on film 173510, items 1-2. It will also be found at both libraries on film 173464, at the end of item 3. All of the probate records for this court have been microfilmed, and there is one guardianship bond dated 1754.

The printed indexes for the probate records of the Peculiar of Isleham, 1556-1700 and 1801-1858 are found with those for the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in BRS volumes 95, 96 and 118 under FHL 942 B4b and BYU CS 34 .B7. Check the index at the back of volumes 96 and 118 for Isleham. There is also a microfilmed calendar mixed with Freckenham that covers wills for Isleham, 1645-1759, (item 1) and administrations for Isleham, 1662-1737, (item 2) at the FHL only on film 173512. Fortunately, the original wills from 1748 onwards and all of the administration bonds are in alphabetic order. All of the probate records for this peculiar have been filmed. Two entries for Isleham will be found on FHL film 173516 that supposedly contains only information for Freckenham. They are a will in 1662 for William Davy, yeoman of Isleham and a marriage license in 1805 between James Woods of Freckenham and Mary Skulthorpe of Isleham. Amongst the inventories for both places on FHL film 173517 will be found the will of George Edwards, yeoman of Isleham in 1726 and an administration for Joseph Leach of Isleham in 1727.

The records for the Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Ely, 1565-1800, and King's College in Cambridge, 1449-1794, were not filmed. The Dean and Chapter had jurisdiction over those associated with Ely Cathedral. The 70 documents for this court are indexed with the Consistory of Ely in BRS volume 107 described above. The records are at the county record office in Cambridge. The records for King's College are still at the University of Cambridge. To access either archives, check the GENUKI web site for Cambridge under the subject of Archives.

Miscellaneous Section

1. Probate records in the Episcopal records, 1382-1844, were published in 1891 by A. Gibbons in Ely Episcopal Records: A Calendar and Concise View of the Episcopal Records preserved in the Muniment Room of the Palace of Ely (FHL 942.59 K2e) as follows:
• Pages 15-18 list a bundle of wills for 1489-1640 with name, residence, and year of probate. More details are provided about the family of Elizabeth Butler of Sawston in 1553.
• Pages 16-18 are a calendar of some 55 wills and administrations proven between 1800-1844.
• Pages 154-184 are a calendar of administrations and marriage licenses, 1562-1582.
• Pages 193-223 provide a calendar of a few prominent persons (33) whose wills and administrations were proven in the Audience Court of the Bishop of Ely between 1382-1526 followed by abstracts of the documents.
• Page 432 is a calendar of 5 wills proven between 1572-1669.
• See the next entry.
2. Abstracts of administrations, 1592-1620, in the Consistory Court were made by S. Allyn Peck in 1943. (FHL 942.59 P2p, volumes 1-3) Volume 1 covers the administrations for 1592-1600 in folios 1-113, and is indexed in the back. Volume 2 covers 1604-1611 in folios 114-295. Volume 3 covers 1611-1620 in folios 1-288 and is indexed in the back. The references to G. 2III and IV are to Gibbons' book described in number 1 above.
3. The original wills listed as belonging to the Archdeaconry of Ely on film 186632, item 1, at both the FHL and BYU include seven wills from the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon and only three from the Archdeaconry of Ely, none of which are listed in the printed index for Ely. They appear in the following order:
• Bull, Crystofer, gent. of St. Andrew Hertford, 1588, folio 1
• Drewell, Robert, esq. of Little Gidding, Huntingdon, 1558, folio 7
• Folbye, William of Abbotts Ripton, Huntingdon, 1545, folio 8
• Knight, Richard of Baldock, Hertford, 1595, folio 9
• Palmer, Robert of Sandon, Hertford, 1587, folio 10
• Papworth, Edmund of Hitchin, Hertford, 1608, folio 11
• Ruchelay, Roger of North Mymms, Hertford, 1494, folio 12
• Conisborow, Thomas of Toft, Cambridge, 1522, folio 13
• Jeke, Thomas of Eltisley, Cambridge, 1521, folio 15
• Tottell, John of Guilden Morden, Cambridge, 1523, folio 16
4. Court Books for the Archdeaconry of Ely have been microfilmed. These records have the appearance of act books, but include probates, marriage licenses, bastardies cases, and other church business, including the fees charged for each matter. Their arrangement is as follows:
• 1598-1602, volumes 1-4 on 186,672 at the FHL only
• 1611-1621, 1626, volumes 5-9 on 186,673 at both the FHL and BYU
• 1661-1751, volumes 10-15 on 186,674 at the FHL only (Vol. 10 covers 1661-1670, vol. 11 is 1680, vol. 12 is 1681-1693, vol. 13 is 1707-1719, vol. 14 is 1720-1751, and vol. 15 is 1722-1730.)
• 1830-1841, volume 1on 186,675 at both the FHL and BYU
5. George J. Gray and W.M. Palmer published in 1915 from the probate records of the University of Cambridge, Abstracts from the Wills and testamentary documents of printers, binders, & stationers of Cambridge from 1504 to 1699. (FHL 942.59/C1 U2g and on film 873821, item 4, at BYU)