Shropshire (SAL)

Jurisdictions

1. The majority of parishes in the North came under (A) the Consistory of Lichfield (see Stafford), and in the South under (B) the Consistory of Hereford (see Hereford). The parish map in The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers indicates the division between the northern and southern parts of the county. The dividing line is accurate until it reaches the southeastern part of the county. Albrighton near Shifnal, Astley Abbotts, Boningale, and Worfield belonged to the Consistory of Lichfield. Badger and Beckbury were part of the Consistory of Hereford. It should also be noted that Shrawardine at the other end of the line came under the Consistory of Hereford until 1851 when it was transferred to the Consistory of Lichfield.
2. The exceptions to this north/south division included 9 parishes in the northwestern part of the county that came under (C) the Consistory of St. Asaph. There were also (D) two royal peculiars, (E) a prebendal court belonging to Lichfield, (F) a peculiar and several manorial courts in the North, and (G) two peculiars in the South.

Decision Table

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

1. Consistory Court of Lichfield (Stafford)
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 Consistory of Hereford, search:

1. Consistory Court of Hereford (Hereford)
2. Do 2-4 under (A) above.

For those who lived in (C) the Consistory of Asaph, search:

1. Consistory Court of Asaph
2. Do 2-4 under (A) above.

For those who lived in (D) a Royal Peculiar, search:

1. The respective court
2. Do 2-4 under (A) above.

For those who lived in (E) the Prebendal of Prees or Pipe Minor, search

1. Prebendal Court of Prees
2. Court of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield (Stafford)
3. Do all of the steps under (A) above.

For those who lived in (F) the Peculiar and Manorial Courts in the North, search:

1. The respective court
2. Do all of the steps under (A) above.

For those who lived in (G) the two Peculiar Courts in the South, search:

1. The respective court (see Hereford for the court of the Chancellor of the Choir of Hereford Cathedral)
2. Do all of the steps under (B) above.

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. (London: Estate Duty)

Indexes/Microfilmed Records for the Consistory of St. Asaph

All of the probate records for the Consistory of St. Asaph have been microfilmed. The wills were filmed twice. For an efficient guide to Welsh probates, consult the FHL reference work entitled "Pre-1858 Probates: Wales" prepared by their staff. Abstracts of the wills for each Welsh court with yearly indexes to all of the names in each will were produced by the FHL. The abstracts, 1557-1832, and indexes for the original wills through 1857 of the Consistory of St. Asaph are available on fiche/film. For details, put 6026564 in the Film/Fiche box of the main menu of the online FHL catalog at FamilySearch or check the FHL register under St. Asaph for the section labeled "Probate Abstracts." The register also provides the pertinent film numbers should you wish to recheck the original documents. There is also a modern, master index for the records of this court prepared by the National Library of Wales on FHL/BYU film 1788459, items 5-8, and 1788460, item 1.

Printed Indexes for the Peculiar/Manorial Courts of Shropshire

Indexes for most of these courts were published in the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Transactions, 4th Series, Volume 46 Supplement (FHL 942.45 C4a and BYU film 95257, item 4) as follows:

• Bridgnorth, 1635-1858, on pages 4-28
• Ellesmere, 1630-1857, on pages 29-38
• Hampton & Colemeare, 1734-1845, on pages 38-39 (also search Ellesmere)
• Lyneal, 1738-1801, on page 39 (also search Ellesmere)
• Prees, 1698-1857, on pages 39-45
• Buildwas, 1799-1819, on page 46
• Longdon-upon-Tern, 1777-1838, on page 46
• Tyrley, 1695-1841, on pages 45-46
• Wombridge, 1787-1854, on page 47
• Shrewsbury St. Mary, 1661-1857, on pages 47-60

Printed Index for the Manorial Court of Ruyton-of-the-Eleven Towns

1665-1709, Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Transactions, 4th Series, Volume 52 (FHL 942.45 C4a on pages 116-118)

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Peculiar/Manorial Courts in Shropshire

All of the known records for these courts, except for Buildwas, Longdon-upon-Tern, and Ruyton-of-the-Eleven Towns, were filmed at the National Library of Wales in 1948-1950. The films for each are outlined below.

• Bridgnorth-Wills, Administrations & Inventories, 1635-1858. For yearly coverage, see film 95258 for 1635-1712, film 95259 for 1700-1750, film 95260 for 1751-1790, film 95261 for 1791-1830, and film 95262 for 1831-1858. All of the films are at both the FHL and BYU. The "Book of Presedents" is on FHL/BYU film 95257, item 2. It gives examples of forms and some church business using copies of the original records that may give some extra information.
• Ellesmere-Wills, Administrations & Inventories, 1630-1858. The original records for the manors of Hampton, Colemeare, and Lyneal will also be found here. The records for names of persons, A-L, are on FHL/BYU film 95263. Some records are too dark to read, especially among the As. The records for M-Y are on FHL/BYU film 95264. The volume of Registered Copy Wills/Act Book, 1734-1841 followed by an index is on FHL/BYU film 95257, item 3.
• Prees-Original Wills, 1698-1857. The index includes one entry among the Gs for 1863. The records for the portion of this court for Stafford will be found under that county. The Shropshire records for the parish of Prees are on FHL film 95265.
• Tyrley-Manorial Court. A small part of the parish of Market Drayton came under the jurisdiction of the Manor of Tyrley in Stafford, which see for further details.
• Wombridge-Original Wills, Administrations & Inventories, 1787-1854. See FHL/BYU film 95268, item 1.
• Shrewsbury St. Mary-Original Wills, Administrations & Inventories, 1661-1857. The records for persons, A-M, are on FHL film 95266. The records for N-Y are on FHL & BYU film 95267. In 1994, films were added to this collection for the Registered Copy Wills, 1707-1716, on FHL film 1911778 and an Act Book, 1674-1697, on FHL film 1911759. The act book has also been transcribed and is under FHL 942.45/S2 P2c.
• No original probate records for Buildwas, Longdon-upon-Tern, and Ruyton-of-the-Eleven Towns are available at the FHL. Some probate copies, especially for Ruyton-of-the-Eleven Towns, may be found in the Miscellaneous Section under the entry for "A List of Wills and Marriage Settlements in the Local History Collection of the Shrewsbury Public Library."

The records for all of these courts are now at the Shropshire Records Office. For an update or records missing from the FHL collection, click here.

Miscellaneous Section

1. 1304-1500, 39 original wills concerning the Corporation of Ludlow are found on FHL film 1951541, item 2.
2. "A List of Wills and Marriage Settlements in the Local History Collection of the Shrewsbury Public Library" was compiled by R.E. James in 1958. (FHL 942 A1, no. 695)
3. Abstracts of some Shropshire wills, 1443-1767, connected with Montgomeryshire and listed as "Border Wills" are under FHL 942.94 C4mp, volume 26, pages 37-48 and 171-226.
4. For an online site that features Shropshire wills recorded at Chester, 1681-1837, go to Genealogylinks.net and click on Shropshire and then Shropshire Burials & Wills 1591-1837.
5. Abstracts of Shropshire wills,1402-1500, proven in the PCC were published in the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Transactions. (FHL 942.45 C4a, Series 1, volume 5, pages 257-264; volume 6, pages 319-332; and Series 2, volume 9, pages 215-218)
6. Shropshire Probates in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700-1749 (FHL 942.45 P22m)