Lincoln (LIN)

Jurisdictions

1. The majority of parishes belonged to (A) the Consistory of Lincoln. The courts listed under 2 below, with the exception of the Prebendal of Louth, merged with the Consistory Court of Lincoln in 1834.
2. Other courts with a separate series of records included (B) the Archdeaconry of Stow, (C) eight peculiar/prebendal courts, and (D) the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln. There are no known surviving records for the Manor of Kirkstead.

Decision Table

For those who lived in (A) the Consistory of Lincoln, search:

1. Consistory Court of Lincoln
2. Both the Prerogative Courts of Canterbury (London) and York (York)
3. Court of Arches, 1660- (London: Arches)
4. Court of Delegates, 1636- (London: Delegates)

For those who lived in (B) the Archdeaconry of Stow, search:

1. Pre-1835, the Archdeaconry Court of Stow and post-1834, the Consistory Court of Lincoln
2. Do 1-4 as listed under (A) above.

For those who lived in (C) the peculiar/prebendal courts, search:

1. Pre-1835, the respective court and post-1834, the Consistory Court of Lincoln (Note: the records for the Prebendal of Louth go to 1858)
2. Dean and Chapter Court of Lincoln
3. Do 1-4 as listed under (A) above.

For those who lived in (D) the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, search:

1. Pre-1835, the Dean and Chapter Court of Lincoln and post-1834, the Consistory Court of Lincoln
2. Do 1-4 as listed under (A) above.

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

1. Prerogative Court of Canterbury (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 (London: Estate Duty).

Indexes and Microfilmed Records for the Consistory of Lincoln

All of the probate records for this court have been microfilmed with the exception of the accounts and separate collection of inventories, 1508-1831. The initial film for the records of this court is 198795. The indexes and calendars for this court at the FHL and BYU are as follows: (See the Miscellaneous Section for a Beneficiary Index.)

NOTE: Where an initial film number is given, use either version of the FHL catalog to see all of the films in that collection. The previous version at FamilySearch may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

1. 1320-1600, Wills (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 28
   This is volume 28 of the Index Library series (BRS) published in 1902. Volume 28 contains 3 indexes. The first on pages 1-17 is to wills recorded in the Episcopal Registers, 1320-1547. Abstracts of these wills were made by both A. Gibbons and C.W. Foster as will be found listed in the Miscellaneous Section below. The second index on pages 18-28 is to a miscellaneous series referred to as the “Aylmer” wills, 1489-1588. These wills are available on FHL film 227820. The third index on pages 29-349 is to the main series of wills for this court from 1506-1600.
2. 1601-1652, Wills (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 41
   This is volume 41 of the Index Library series (BRS) published in 1910. Always consult the additions and corrections on pages ix and 215-227. There is an index to places outside of the county on pages 228-234. An asterisk (*) beside an entry refers to Maddison’s abstracts from his second volume for 1600-1617. See the Miscellaneous Section for further details on his abstracts.
3. 1508-1730, Miscellaneous Wills/Administrations (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 57
   This is volume 57 of the Index Library series (BRS). Volume 57 contains indexes for all of the courts in this county. The last two indexes are pertinent to this court. The index on pages 430-456 refers to volumes A-C and boxes D-H. The actual documents are found on FHL films 199482-199488. (Unfortunately, there does not appear to be an index at the FHL to boxes J-N on FHL films 199489-199491. The act books may be of some assistance. Boxes J-N contain numerous entries for counties outside of Lincoln, many of which are for laborers.) The last index on pages 457-465 is to “Sundry” documents, 1508-1608 to be found on FHL films 199492-199494.
4. 1540-1659, Administrations (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU on fiche CS 43 .G46x LH12302) volume 52
   This is volume 52 of the Index Library series (BRS). Volume 52 includes act book references to the administrations and some probate/guardianship bonds. An index entry such as A xiii, 31 refers to volume 13 of the act books, page 31. Volume 52 has an index to places outside of the county on pages 406-410.
   The printed indexes for this court before 1660 are deficient. They should be supplemented by searches in the manuscript calendars and act books on microfilm. The calendars through 1699 are on FHL/BYU films 198795-198797. The act books, 1553-1701, are on FHL/BYU films 200124-200128 (BYU lacks films 200125 and 200128).
5. 1660-1700, Wills/Inventories (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 101
   This is volume 101 of the Index Library series (BRS). It has a place index on pages 255-290.
6. 1699-1858, Wills (FHL/BYU films 198798-198799)
   Film 198798 covers volumes 7-8 of the manuscript calendar of wills through 1765. Volume 7 includes entries for the Archdeaconry of Stow, 1723-1731. Volumes 9-11 are on film 198799. The Lincolnshire Archives ahs now scanned these manuscripts from 1701-1800 and made the results available at the Lincolnshire City Council website. The index to wills, 1700-1910, is also on CD-ROM no. 7324 and can be searched on computer in the in-house system of the FHL. Another CD-ROM no. 112 covers both wills and administrations for 1800-1858. To find either of them, go to the FHL catalog and type into the box for a keyword search CD-ROM no.7324 for the first item or CD-ROM no.112 for the second.
7. 1600-1858, Administrations (FHL/BYU films 198800-198801)
   The first film covers volumes 1-4 of the manuscript calendar, 1600-1810. The second film is volume 5, 1811-1858. Volumes 1, 2 and 4 reference whether the bond is for an administration, probate or tuition, and whether or not there is an inventory.

Indexes and Microfilmed Records for the Archdeaconry of Stow

All of the probate records for this court have been microfilmed except for the separate collection of inventories, 1616-1787. The initial film for this series is 200012, plus also see film 200117. The indexes and calendars for this court are as follows:

NOTE: Where an initial film number is given, use either version of the FHL catalog to see all of the films in that collection. The previous version at FamilySearch may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

1. 1530-1699, Wills/Administrations (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 57
   This is volume 57 of the Index Library series (BRS). It starts with the Stow wills followed by the administrations, 1582-1699. The index to administrations includes probate and guardianship bonds as well as inventories. See the NOTE under number 4 above. The manuscript calendar to wills is on FHL/BYU film 199986, item 1, and to administrations on film 199987, item 1.
2. 1700-1834, Wills/Administrations (FHL BRITISH COMP DISC) number 112
   The manuscript calendars for this time period are found on both of the films (item 2) listed in the previous entry. (To find the CD-ROM look under number 6 above.)

Indexes and Microfilmed Records for the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln

All of the probate records for this court have been microfilmed except for the separate collection of inventories. The initial film is 199984. The printed index and manuscript calendars are as follows:

NOTE: Where an initial film number is given, use either version of the FHL catalog to see all of the films in that collection. The previous version at FamilySearch may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

• 1534-1834, Wills/Administrations (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 57
  See the above description under the Archdeaconry of Stow for volume 57. The combined index for the Dean and Chapter is on pages 265-366. The manuscript calendars on FHL/BYU film 199984 are to administrations, 1641-1834, and some miscellaneous wills, 1582-1643.

Indexes/Microfilmed Records for the 8 Prebendal/Peculiar Courts

All of the probate records for the 8 courts located in Lincolnshire have been microfilmed. The printed indexes are in the same volume 57 described above for the Archdeaconry of Stow and the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln.

Miscellaneous Section

1. 1383-1900, Beneficiary Index, numbers 1-4
   This is an every name index to surnames that differ from those of the testator of a given will. The results were compiled by the Lincolnshire Family History Society. Number 1 is on FHL fiche 6393728-6393730 and numbers 2-4 on FHL fiche 6393718-6393720.
2. 1271-1532, Will Abstracts (FHL 942.53 B4L)
   Abstracts of most of the Consistory Court wills and commissions to probate were made by C.W. Foster as follows: volume 5 covers 1271-1526 (pre-1500 entries extracted in full), volume 10 is for 1505-1530 and volume 24 for 1530-1532. See the printed index in BRS volume 28 described above. Foster's abstracts are online at British History.
3. 1280-1547, Will Abstracts (FHL 942.53 S2ag)
   Abstracts of Lincoln wills and commissions to probate were made by A. Gibbons in 1888. See the printed index in BRS volume 28 described above. The first 20 pages of FHL/BYU film 198795 are a complete index to Gibbon’s abstracts.
4. 1500-1617, Will Abstracts (FHL 942.53 S2ma)
   Very brief abstracts of wills left by esquires, gentlemen, clerks or higher social rankings were made by A.R. Maddison. Volume 1 covers 1500-1600 and volume 2 is for 1600-1617. See the printed index in BRS volume 41 described above for references to 1600-1617. Volume 1 includes 16 wills from the Archdeaconry of Stow.
5. Probates of interest to both internal and external migration studies include the following:
• The first will on FHL/BYU film 199032 from the Consistory Court in 1754 is for Elizabeth Alder, widow of Doncaster in York. It was also probated in the Exchequer Court of York. She mentions the Ellerker family of London and Northampton, and the Alder family of Dorset.
• FHL/BYU film 199152 from the Consistory Court in 1827 contains a copy of the will of William Jaques, farmer of Hatfield proven in the Prerogative Court of York. He mentions his marriage settlement dated in 1808 with Ann Evans, widow of Epworth in Lincoln, and property in Belton in Lincoln.
• FHL/BYU film 199186 from the Consistory Court in 1838 contains the will of Jane Yoxon, widow of St. Margaret parish in the city of Leicester. She asked to be buried in Northampton, and mentions family in Essex and Bedford.
• FHL film 199424 for the Consistory Court contains an administration dated 1769 for Charles Brittain of the parish of Kirkby Underwood in Lincoln, who formerly lived in North Carolina.
• FHL film 200035 for the Archdeaconry of Stow, 1666-1668, contains the will of Henry Cressey of Scawby on folio 244. It is accompanied by 3 letters written in 1922-23 by William Graves of Hull concerning the Graves, Whitlam, Coulman and Wilson families of Lincoln, York and Australia.
• FHL film 200074 for the Archdeaconry of Stow contains a copy of the will proven in 1820 in the Prerogative Court of York of John Milns of Blyton. He mentions family in Hull in York and property in Gringley on the Hill in Nottingham and Upper Canada. He left money to Methodist missionaries serving abroad.
• FHL/BYU film 200092 for the Archdeaconry of Stow contains an administration-with-will-annexed and a renunciation in 1782 for Martha Aubery, spinster of Gainsborough. Her mother, Martha Oliver, lived at St. Luke Old Street in Middlesex.
6. Other items of interest noted in the Consistory Court are as follows:
• The will of John Myers of Skendleby proven in 1728 on FHL film 199004 is mistakenly listed under Wyers in the index.
• Jane Grain (maiden name Porter) died in 1826. A renunciation required a further administration grant in 1844. Jane Porter was first married to John George and then Isaac Grain, farmer of Pinchbeck. See FHL/BYU film 199202.
• The will of Richard Godson of Heckington proven in 1855 on FHL film 199240 is accompanied by his account book covering the years of 1830-1854.