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London (LND)

To learn more about the methodology of London research:

Greater London in the 1850s consisted of 112 parishes in the ancient City of London, 13 parishes/chapelries in the City of Westminster with nearly 30 more parishes in the County of Middlesex, some 25 parishes and chapelries in northeastern Surrey, and 8 parishes in northwestern Kent. Altogether, Greater London contained at that time some 184 parishes within a radius of a little over 3 miles from St. Paul's Cathedral.

Jurisdictions

  1. The majority of these parishes came under the jurisdiction of two courts (A) the Commissary of London (London Division) and the Consistory of London. These two courts had concurrent jurisdiction with the two archdeaconries described below, and the Consistory had concurrent jurisdiction with the Commissary court. Both the commissary and consistory courts should be searched at the same time. They did not have concurrent jurisdiction over the peculiar courts, but increasingly after 1800 the probate business of all of the smaller ecclesiastical courts in Greater London ended up in these two courts.
  2. The smaller ecclesiastical courts with probate jurisdiction in Greater London included (B) the Archdeaconry of London and the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (Middlesex Division) and (C) five peculiar courts: the peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Deaneries of the Arches and of Croydon that were peculiars of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Royal Peculiar of St. Katherine by the Tower, and the Royal Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The parishes in Greater London covered by these courts (B-C) are listed below by geographical area.
  3. There was also a civil court, the Court of Husting, which had probate jurisdiction within the ancient City of London from medieval times through most of the 17th century. Research involving the City of London before 1689 should always include this court.

Greater London Parishes belonging to the smaller ecclesiastical courts

City of London

Parish Court
All Hallows Bread Street Deanery of the Arches (C)
All Hallows Lombard Street Deanery of the Arches (C)
All Hallows London Wall Archdeaconry of London (B)
All Hallows the Great Archdeaconry of London (B)
All Hallows the Less Archdeaconry of London (B)
Christchurch Archdeaconry of London (B)
Holy Trinity Minories Archdeaconry of London (B)
Holy Trinity the Less Archdeaconry of London (B)
Lamb Chapel Archdeaconry of London (B)
Precinct of St Martin le Grand next to
the street by that name in the parishes
of St Ann/St Agnes and St Leonard
Foster Lane		 Dean & Chapter of Westminster (C)
St Alphage Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Andrew by the Wardrobe Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Andrew Holborn Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Ann & St Agnes Archdeaconry of London (B) but partly in
D & C of Westminster (C) before 1671
St Augustine Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Bartholomew by the Exchange Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Bartholomew the Great Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Bartholomew the Less Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Botolph without Aldersgate Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Botolph without Aldgate Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Dionis Backchurch Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Dunstan in the East Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Ethelburga Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Faith under St Pauls Dean & Chapter of St Paul's (C)
St Giles without Cripplegate Dean & Chapter of St Paul's (C)
St Gregory by St Pauls Dean & Chapter of St Paul's (C)
St Helen Dean & Chapter of St Paul's (C)
St John the Baptist Archdeaconry of London (B)
St John the Evangelist Deanery of the Arches (C)
St John Zachary Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Katherine by the Tower Peculiar of St Katherine by the Tower (C)
St Katherine Coleman Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Leonard Eastcheap Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Leonard Foster Lane Commissary of London (A) but partly in
Dean & Chapter of Westminster (C)
St Magnus the Martyr Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Margaret Lothbury Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Margaret Moses Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Martin Ludgate Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Abchurch Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Aldermary Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Mary at Hill Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Bothaw Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Mary Colechurch Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary le Bow Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Mary Magdalen Old Fish Street Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Mountshaw Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Somerset Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Staining Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Mary Woolnoth Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Michael Bassishaw Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Michael Crooked Lane Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Michael le Querne Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Michael Paternoster Royal Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Michael Queenhithe Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Olave Hart Street Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Olave Silver Street Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Pancras Soper Lane Deanery of the Arches (C)
St Peter Cornhill Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Peter Westcheap Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Stephen Walbrook Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Thomas the Apostle Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Vedast Deanery of the Arches (C)

 

City of Westminster

The City of Westminster was associated with the County of Middlesex. The majority of this city's parishes/chapelries belonged to the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B). See Middlesex for details of the indexes and microfilmed records for this court. The exceptions are listed below.

Parish Court
St James Picadilly Dean & Chapter of Westminster (C) and
Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
St John the Evangelist Dean & Chapter of Westminster (C) and
Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
St Margaret Dean & Chapter of Westminster (C) and
Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
St Martin in the Fields Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B) but partly in
D & C of Westminster (C) before 1700
(See also the Archdeaconry of London.)
St John the Baptist or
St Mary le Savoy		 Archdeaconry of London (B)
Westminster Abbey Dean & Chapter of Westminster (C) and
Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)

 

County of Middlesex

Of the 30 some parishes in this county that made up Greater London in the 1850s, the majority belonged to the Commissary of London (A). The exceptions are listed below.

Parish Court
Chelsea, St Luke Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
Clerkenwell Archdeaconry of London (B)
Holborn, St Andrew Archdeaconry of London (B)
Kensington, St Mary Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
Paddington, St James D & C of Westminster (C) before 1700 and
then the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
Paddington, St Mary D & C of Westminster (C) before 1700 and
then the Archdeaconry of Middlesex (B)
St Botolph without Aldgate Archdeaconry of London (B)
St George the Martyr Archdeaconry of London (B)
St Luke Old Street Dean & Chapter of St Paul's (C)
St Pancras Dean & Chapter of St Paul's (C)
Shoreditch, St Leonard Archdeaconry of London (B)

Surrey

The parishes in this county that were part of Greater London in the 1850s included the 6 in Southwark along with the parishes and chapelries of Battersea, Bermondsey, Camberwell, Clapham, Lambeth, Merton, Rotherhithe, Streatham, Tooting Graveney, and Wandsworth. All of them belonged to the Archdeaconry of Surrey (see Surrey). In 1846, they were transferred to the Consistory of London (A).

The parishes of Barnes, Mortlake, Newington, Putney, Walworth and Wimbledon in Surrey came under the Deanery of Croydon (C). They were also transferred to the Consistory of London (A) in 1846. See Surrey for more information about the records of the Deanery of Croydon.

Kent

The parishes in this county that formed part of Greater London in the 1850s were Charlton, Deptford, Eltham, Greenwich, Lee, Lewisham, Plumstead, and Woolwich. They came under the Archdeaconry of Rochester (see Kent) and were transferred to the Consistory of London (A) in 1846.

Decision Table

For those who lived in (A) the Commissary of London (London Division) and the Consistory of London, search:

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

For those who lived in (B) the Archdeaconries of London and Middlesex (Middlesex Division), search

  1. The respective Archdeaconry Court (see Middlesex for that archdeaconry)
  2. Do 1-4 above for (A) the Commissary and Consistory Courts.

For those who lived in (C) the five Peculiar Courts, search:

  1. The respective Peculiar Court
  2. Do 2-4 above for (A) the Commissary and Consistory Courts.

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)

London Methodology

The sheer number of people and the large number of parishes concentrated in a small radius requires a willingness to search for connected bits and pieces of information about a family from many records. It is wise to search the indexes of all of the probate courts functioning in Greater London.

London and Middlesex Search Plan

  1. 1750-1858. First search the online master index of all nine courts (A-C) compiled by Dr. David Wright. This index includes wills and other types of probate records. The London Probate Index is located online at FindMyPast. This free site is open to the public searching at the FHL, using the computers in the Family History Section of the BYU Library, or through an account with FamilySearch (through Partner Access).
  2. 1507-1858. Next view the original wills online for the four major courts (A-B) and one court from the (C) list: the Peculiar Court of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. This site does not include the other four peculiar courts nor the registered copy wills and other types of probate records for all of the nine courts. Go to Ancestry.com. Again, this site is free for those using the computers of the FHL and in the family history section at BYU.
  3. 1489-1858. Then search the printed and microfilmed records for each court as described below watching particularly for copy wills registered before the date when the original wills begin and any additional types of probate records. The description of the records for the Archdeaconry Court of Middlesex will be found under the county of Middlesex.
  4. 1252-1688. Search the civil Court of Husting as described below.

Microfilmed Probate Records/Calendars for the Consistory Court of London

All of the existing registered copy wills/administrations, 1492-1858, have been microfilmed. Besides the Consistory's series, there were two other series of registered copy wills: wills granted by the Bishop of Westminster, 1541-1550, and the Vicar General's series of wills and administrations, 1520-1685.

The original wills were partially filmed to fill in perceived gaps in the registered copy ones. This filming included 1507-1546 (see the Miscellaneous Section for abstracts of some of these wills), 1552-1555, and 1686-1751. The original wills on microfilm will be found on FHL films 94456-94461.

The microfilmed calendars to these records are as follows:

    1. 1362-1669, Wills/Administrations (FHL and BYU film 94168)
      Volume 1 of this 19th century calendar was designed to combine all of the various indexes. Surnames are arranged by their initial letter in two major groupings. Thus, you will first see all surnames beginning with the letter "A" as follows:
      1. Original Wills, 1507-1669. Some entries will be marked at the end with a capital A or C to indicate that that will was transferred in 1883 to either the Archdeaconry of London or the Commissary Court.
      2. Registered Wills/Administrations are then arranged in 3 sub-groupings
        1. Entries registered in the first 9 volumes by the name of the volume and the years covered by each. Volume 1 "Palmer" for 1492-1520 has been abstracted and printed. See the Miscellaneous Section for details. Volume 2 "Thirlby" and part of volume 3 "Wymesley" pertain to the Bishop of Westminster. The contents of volumes 2-3 have been printed on pages 90-102 of Indexes to the Ancient Testamentary Records of Westminster (FHL 942.1/W1 P2b)
          The first 4 volumes of registered wills are on FHL/BYU film 94171. Ignore the first 100 pages of this film which contain the original indexes to the 9 volumes. The wills in volume 8 "Bellamy" for 1621-1630 were abstracted by Leslie Mahler and are online at GENUKI.
        2. Testaments listed in the Bishops' Books/Registers, 1362-1559, by the surname of the Bishop and the years covered in each register. There is another easier-to-use index to this grouping, 1306-1559, on FHL/BYU film 855606, item 3. The matching Bishops' Registers are on FHL films 2298988-2298991.
        3. The 16 volumes from the Vicar General's series, 1520-1685. These 16 volumes are found on FHL films 94175-94181.
    2. 1670-1720, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL/BYU film 94168, item 2)
      Volume 2 of this calendar actually contains the registered documents for this time period. It starts with some 30 pages of indexing followed by the documents on folios 1-208. The initial 30 pages are divided into two columns with wills on the left and administrations on the right. Original wills that were not registered were entered on the left in red ink. Such entries will be fainter on the microfilm and give just a year rather than a folio number.
    3. 1720-1751, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL/BYU film 94169)
      Item 1 is volume 3 arranged in the same format as volume 2 with the documents included. Item 2 of this film is volume 4 which is just a repeat of the calendars in volumes 2-3; however, this material may be easier to use than the indexing in volumes 2-3, especially in detecting original wills that were not registered.
    4. 1751-1814, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL/BYU film 94169, items 3-4)
      Item 3 of this film is volume 5 of the calendar covering A-H for 1751-1814. Item 4 adds volume 6 for I-Z in the same time period. 
      The calendars from 1751-1858 are now arranged by all of the wills for a given letter of the alphabet followed by the administrations for that letter. The calendars now add the county of residence, but they cease giving folio numbers in favor of the year and month when the document was probated. These calendars match the registered documents on FHL films 94182-94210 that are also arranged by date. Note Dr. Wright's master index for 1750-1858 described above under London Methodology.
    5. 1815-1858, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL/BYU film 94170)
      Item 1 is volume 7 covering 1815-1823, item 2 is volume 8 for 1824-1846, and item 3 is volume 9 for 1847-1858.

Indexes/Calendars and Microfilmed Records 
for the Commissary Court of London (London Division)

All of the probate records for the Commissary Court have been microfilmed. Portions of these records were filmed on at least 3 different occasions. Type 94082 into the film/fiche box on the main menu of the FHL catalog at FamilySearch to access the major series of probate records for this court. There are also 4 smaller sections of probate records on microfilm. The beginning films of these sections are 2068512, 2068551, 2082362, and 2092817. The indexes/calendars for this court include:

  1. 1374-1488, Registered Wills (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS434 .B7) volume 82
    This is volume 82 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It indexes the first 7 volumes of registered wills which also include probate and administration acts. A detailed place index will be found on pages 215-239. It is arranged by county and parish and ends with a list of places mentioned in the wills for places in Europe outside of the British Isles. Modern abstracts of these wills are also on film. See the Miscellaneous Section for details.
  2. 1489-1570, Registered Wills/Act Books (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS434 .B7) vol. 86
    This is volume 86 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It indexes the registered wills in volumes 7-16 and volumes 1-13 of the act books. It adds the original wills that start in 1523, including the unregistered ones for 1545-1562. Pages 303-311 provide a listing, probably taken from the act books, of persons punished for violations of ecclesiastical law. The place index on pages 321-340 uses the same format as that found in volume 82. There are also abstracts of these wills through part of 1521. See the Miscellaneous Section.
  3. 1571-1625, Registered Wills/Act Books (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS434 .B7) vol. 97
    This is volume 97 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It indexes the registered wills in volumes 16-24 and volumes 13-17 of the act books. It adds the original wills, including the unregistered ones for 1577-1585. An index to ships appears on pages 489-499 and "stray names" starting on page 523. The same type of detailed place index found in the previous two volumes is provided, plus the addition of places mentioned in Africa, America and Asia. Abstracts for the wills involving Colonial America will be found in Peter Wilson Coldham's American Wills Proved in London, 1611-1775, available on Ancestry.com. See the Miscellaneous Section for further details.
  4. 1626-1700, A-G (FHL 942 B4b) volume 102
    This is volume 102 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It indexes the registered wills in volumes 24-50A, volumes 17-29 of the act books, and the corresponding original wills from boxes 32-90. There are indexes similar to those found in volume 97 described above, but will be found in this case in the back of volume 111.
  5. 1626-1700, H-Z (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS434 .B7) volumes 108 & 111
    See the above description for volume 102. Volume 108 covers H-S and volume 111 finishes the alphabet plus includes the master indexes for these three volumes. The "Abroad" index includes numerous entries for Colonial America, Barbados, and Jamaica. There are abstracts for the wills in volume 26 of the registered copy wills, 1629-1634, online at GENUKI and for 1644-1646 here.
  6. 1697-1737, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL & BYU film 94087)
    This film contains volumes 13-21 of the manuscript calendar. Each page is divided into two columns with wills on the left and administrations on the right. Volume 13 ends with 1700 and volume 14 covers 1701-1704. Both attach a folio number to each will. Thereafter, the date of probate is provided rather than a folio number. Starting in 1705, a later notation has been added in the left margin of both wills and administrations indicating whether or not the deceased was a pauper or servant. There are a surprising number of such entries between 1705-1756. To determine if there is an unregistered will, start with the matching act books for 1700-1737. Volumes 29-37 of the act books are on FHL films 94496-94500. BYU has film 94498 for 1713-1721 and 94500 for 1729-1737.
  7. 1738-1805, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL & BYU film 94088)
    This film contains volumes 22-29 of the manuscript calendar. Starting in volume 25 for 1751-1756, a new column is added to indicate the last known county of residence. 
    L, M, E or Ess, and pts are used to indicate London, Middlesex, Essex and parts or counties outside of these three. Volume 29 for 1800-1805 begins separate listings of the wills followed by the administrations for each year. The matching act books are on FHL films 94501-94504, of which BYU has 94502-94503. Abstracts were made for each registered copy will from 1750-1857. See the Miscellaneous Section for details.
  8. 1806-1858, Registered Wills/Administrations (FHL & BYU film 94089)
    This film contains volumes 30-34 of the manuscript calendar. Volume 30 duplicates the entries for 1800-1805. Starting with volume 31, the value of the estate is indicated in the left margin. The matching act books are on FHL films 94504-94506. See the above note concerning abstracts. Note the master index for 1750-1858 described under "London Methodology."

Indexes and Microfilmed Records for the Archdeaconry Court of London

All of the probate records for the Archdeaconry Court have been microfilmed. Portions of these records were filmed on at least 3 different occasions. All of the registered wills and act books begin in the FHL catalog with film 94068. The collection of administration bonds begins with film 588471 and continues on film 814203. There is also a small collection of miscellaneous probate records that starts with film 1537760. The indexes for this court include:

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. 1393-1649, Wills and Act Books (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS434 .B7) volume 89
    This is volume 89 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It indexes the surviving registered wills, 1393-1641, in volumes 1-8; the act books, 1564-1649, in volumes 1-8; and the original wills, 1524-1646. The first two volumes of registered wills were filmed twice. Volume 1 calendars entries for 1368 and 1416-1421, but the surviving wills actually cover only 1393-1415. Volume 2 does the same for 1524-1548, but actually covers only 1549-1560. The printed index has a place index on pages 445-461 that includes entries for America, Asia and other parts of Europe. There is also an index to stray names on pages 463-476. The entries in BRS volumes 89 and 98 match up best with the archival designations in the last filming of original wills starting with FHL film 1786591, item 5.
  2. 1661-1700, Wills and Act Books (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS434 .B7) volume 98
    This is volume 98 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It indexes the registered wills, 1660/1-1680, in volumes 9-10; the act books, 1660-1700, in volumes 8-18; and the original wills, 1662-1700. The printed index includes an index to ships on pages 205-206, place names on pages 211-223, and stray names on pages 225-233. See the note above under BRS 89 concerning finding microfilms of the original wills.
  3. 1700-1807, Wills (FHL 942.1 P22w)
    This index was compiled by Cliff Webb and published by the Society of Genealogists. It does not include the administration bonds or act books. All of the wills are filed only by date of probate. There is an index to places on pages 85-91 that starts with those from abroad but does not mention Colonial America. A list of ships appears on pages 97-99. This same index is available online at FindMyPast. The manuscript calendar, 1368-1807, is also at BYU on film 94081.

Microfilmed Records/Calendars for the Peculiar Court of the 
Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral

All of the probate records, except the inventories, for this court have been microfilmed. There are 9 volumes of act books, 14 volumes of registered copy wills, and 120 bundles of original wills in 16 boxes. Volumes 1-3, 1646-1681, of the act books are on FHL film 1594691, item 5. Volumes 4-7, 1682-1710, are on film 1594949 and volumes 7-9, 1710-1837 on film 1594950. The Registered Copy Wills are on films 94260-94269. To see the various film numbers for the Original Wills, put 1594951 in the Film/Fiche box of the main menu of the FHL catalog at FamilySearch. Item 4 of that film starts with a list of what years are covered in each of the 120 bundles. Note: Item 2 of film 1595041 contains bundles 101-120 for 1760-1837. The following manuscript/typescript calendars are available:

  1. 1646-1837, Probate/Administration Act Books (FHL film 1594951, item 1)
    This is 2 volumes of transcripts and original calendars removed from the act books. It bears the modern classification of 25625A. Volume 1 covers act books 1-6 for 1646-1708, and volume 2 adds act books 7-9 for 1709-1837. These calendars can also be used as an index to the Original Wills. The act books and their individual calendars were also filmed in 1952 and are available at BYU under films 94258-94259.
  2. 1535-1837, Registered Copy Wills (FHL film 1594951, items 2-3)
    This is Simpson's calendar compiled in 1863. Item 2 bears the modern classification of 25627 and covers volumes 1-6, old volume designations of A-F, for 1535-1672. It is also available at BYU under film 94258, item 1. Item 3 of film 1594951 covers volumes 7-14, old volumes G-N, for 1672-1837.
  3. 1660-1725, Online Index to Inventories
    This index is here.

Index/Microfilmed Records for the Deaneries of Arches and Croydon

All probate records for these two deaneries that were peculiar courts of the Archbishop of Canterbury have been microfilmed. The microfilms for the three deaneries of Arches, Croydon and Shoreham are combined in one collection in the FHL catalog starting with film 91789. The original wills/administrations for the Deanery of the Arches are filed separately; whereas, there is only one series for Croydon and Shoreham. Any probate documents copied into registers tend to be mixed for all three deaneries. The index below reflects this situation.

1620-1845 (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 98
This is the second part of volume 98 of the Index Library series (BRS) of printed indexes. It actually indexes all of the probate records for the Deanery of the Arches from 1620-1832, plus the probate records copied into bound manuscript registers for all three deaneries from 1629 through only 1841. The original or filed records for the Deaneries of Croydon and Shoreham are listed under Surrey and Kent respectively.

The index of places in volume 98 includes the following entries of interest to migration studies concerning the West Indies and Colonial America:

  • Merrick, Jn., formerly of Jamaica, caveat 1737
  • Mitchell, Jn., died in Jamaica, caveat 1705
  • Oake, Mich., died in Jamaica, PCC will1698
  • Poole, Hy., died in Boston in New England, will 1644
  • Southam, Jane, wife of Jn. "who went to Barbados," will 1645

Microfilmed Records/Calendars for the Royal Peculiar of 
St. Katherine by the Tower

All of the surviving probate records for this court have been microfilmed. The original and copy wills are on FHL films 94433-94434, 813614, and 2045986, item 5. There is also an act book with a partial index to probates on film 813614. Administration Bonds are on films 813615 and 813617.

1698-1804, 1821, Calendar of All Documents (FHL/BYU film 94270)
The majority of the records concern marriage licenses and probate matters as listed in 1905.

Microfilmed Records/Indexes for the Royal Peculiar of the 
Dean and Chapter of Westminster

Except for some inventories, all of the surviving probate records for this court have been microfilmed. The volumes of registered copy wills are on films 94255-94257, the original wills on films 94437-94455, and the act books on films 94507-94509. The following indexes can be used to access these records.

  1. 1504-1700, Index to All Records (FHL 942.1/W1 P2b)
    This printed index was compiled by Arthur M. Burke and published in 1913. It is based on the printed calendar described below. In addition to this court's records, it indexes the Vicar General's series for the old Diocese of Westminster, 1540-1556, on pages 90-102 and miscellaneous records concerning testaments in the Muniment Room of Westminster Abbey, 1228-1700, on pages 103-104.
  2. 1504-1829, Calendar to Act Books, Wills/Administrations (FHL & BYU film 94254)
    This calendar was printed by the government in 1864. It does not include the extra series indexed by Burke, but is essential for the period from 1700-1829 and is available at BYU.

Rolls of the Court of Husting

The Court of Husting enrolled the deeds and wills of the property of London citizens from 1252-1688 on 352 manuscript rolls. More than 4000 wills were enrolled. The original rolls, 1-214, for 1252-1485 have been microfilmed. Put 1483651 in the Film/Fiche box of the main menu of the FHL catalog at FamilySearch to see all of the call numbers for the indexes and rolls of this court. See the next item for a printed index/abstracts of the wills.

1258-1688, Calendar/Abstracts of Wills (FHL 942.1/L1 S2Lo) 2 volumes
Reginald R. Sharpe's two volumes were published in 1889-1890. Volume 1 covers the wills in Rolls 2-85 for 1258-1358. No wills were enrolled on the first roll. Volume 2 covers the rest of the wills, 1358-1688. A brief abstract of each will is provided, which unfortunately does not include the names of other persons where a relationship to the testator was not stated in the rolls. That information can be gleaned from the filmed rolls mentioned above through 1485. Fortunately, Sharpe's abstracts go through 1688. The original records are at the London Metropolitan Archives. Sharpe's volumes are now online at British History.

Miscellaneous Section

  1. 1492-1547, London Consistory Court Wills (FHL 942.1/L1 B4L) & (BYU KD 1513 .L6 L6x) volume 3
    These abstracts from the "Palmer" register, 1492-1520, and some original wills, 1507-1547, were edited by Ida Darlington and published in 1967. English translations of wills in Latin are provided, and there is an every name index to this collection of documents. Darlington's publication is online at British History.
  2. 1374-1521, Will Abstracts/Commissary Court of London (FHL 1239017-1239020)
    Volunteers extracted this information from the first 8 volumes of Registered Copy Wills and part of volume 9 through folio 180. There is an index at the start of the first film that lists everyone in each will where a relationship was stated. It does not index executors and witnesses where no relationship was given, but it does include their names in the abstracts. The index includes the year, FHL number of the film extracted, and the page number of the abstract.
  3. 1750-1857, Will Abstracts/Commissary Court of London (FHL Beginning Film 1513138)
    Type the above number into the Film/Fiche box on the main menu of the FHL catalog at FamilySearch to see the numbers of the 9 films in this project and the years each covers. Volunteers extracted this information from volumes 75-98 of the Registered Copy Wills on FHL films 94149-94167. The abstracts are arranged by these film numbers. At the start of each film, such as 94149, there is an every name index that gives the page number of the abstracts that follow where said name is to be found. There is also a place index.
  4. 1717-1845, Bank of England Wills Extracts (FHL Beginning Film 1593953)
    This collection of records is housed at and indexed by the Society of Genealogists. It involves wills where heirs received government stock. Geographically, the collection is not confined to London. The entire collection is available on film at the FHL on 75 rolls of microfilm. The index is available online at FindMyPast. It is free to those using the computers at the FHL and the computers in the family history section of the BYU Library.
  5. 1611-1775, American Wills Proved in London (FHL 973 P27ca) & (BYU CS 436 .L7 A14 1992).
    Peter Wilson Coldham's book was published in 1992. It includes abstracts from the PCC, the Commissary Court of London, and the Archdeaconry of London. This is also available on Ancestry.com.