Suffolk (SFK)

Jurisdictions

1. The county was split almost evenly into two parts: (A) the Archdeaconry of Suffolk presided over the eastern half, and (B) the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in the west. The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers provides the correct boundary between the two archdeaconries. However, it is always wise to search both courts for the parishes on the boundary line. The FHL has also released a jurisdictional map as of 1851 for this county on their in-house network. To view it on their computers, start with their first menu. Click on "Find Ancestors" and then "Databases on the Network." See the title, "English Jurisdictions 1851."
2. The few exceptions are listed below. They involve (C) one peculiar partly in Cambridge and partly in Suffolk, three parishes in the Deanery of Bocking in Essex, and one parish in the Archdeaconry of Norwich.

Decision Table

For those who lived in (A) the Archdeaconry of Suffolk, search:

• Archdeaconry Court of Suffolk
• Archdeaconry Court of Norwich (see Norfolk)
• Consistory Court of Norwich (see Norfolk)
• Prerogative Court of Canterbury (see London: PCC)
• Court of Arches, 1660- (see London: Arches)
• Court of Delegates, 1636- (see London: Delegates)

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

• Archdeaconry Court of Sudbury
• Pre-1837, do 2-3 in (A) above.
• 1837-1858, the Consistory Court of Ely (see Cambridge)
• Do 4-6 in (A) above.

For those who lived in (C) the Peculiar of Freckenham, search

• Peculiar Court of Isleham and Freckenham
• Archdeaconry Court of Huntingdon (see Huntingdon)
• Consistory Court of Rochester (see Kent)
• Do 4-6 in (A) above.

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

• Prerogative Court of Canterbury (see London: PCC)

For those who lived anywhere in the county between 1812-1858, 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/Microfilmed Indexes/Calendars for the Archdeaconry Court of Suffolk

1444-1701, A-K, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 90
1444-1701, L-Z, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 91
These two volumes are part of the Index Library series (BRS). They reference all wills, administrations, and inventories for the time period given. The reference to registered copy wills begins with R and to original wills with W.

1847-1857, Beneficiaries Index, (FHL 942.64 P22d)
This printed index includes testators but its role is to index beneficiaries, which in effect makes it an every name index for the time period indicated. It is also available here. This is a fee site but available free to those using the computers at the FHL and the family history section of the BYU library.

1702-1857, A-C, (FHL film 1849160)
1702-1857, D-Milborne, (FHL film 1849161)
1702-1857, Milborne-Wright, J., ( FHL film 1849162)
1702-1857, Wright, J.-Youngs, (FHL film 1849168)
The above microfilmed card index is to wills only. There is also an index to the inventories, 1582-1824, on the last film. However, it is easier to use another index on film 1657798 that is part of the collection for inventories described below.

1712-1857, Administrations, (FHL/BYU film 96904)
The filmed collection for administration bonds is also indexed separately.

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Archdeaconry Court of Suffolk

The probate records for the Archdeaconry of Suffolk have been filmed twice, but only the Registered Copy Wills have been filmed in their entirety. Missing from the two collections of films are the original wills, 1685-1757; the administrations before 1702; the inventories before 1582; and it appears that the act books have only been partially filmed. The initial film number for most of the original wills is 1657956. The initial film number for the registered copy wills, some original wills, and the administration bonds is 96906. There is a small collection of some 90 documents (IC/AA1/278) for nuncupative and unproved wills on FHL film 1657909, item 5. Most of these are dated, 1660-1699, and are not in the printed index. At least a third of the documents are probates for women.

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.

The Limited Administrations, 1820-1843, on FHL/BYU film 97115 have been mistakenly cataloged under the Archdeaconry of Sudbury. The microfilm collection of inventories starts with an index on film 1657798 followed by the inventories for 1582-1708. The documents for 1705-1721 are on film 1657807, for 1722-1743 on 1657843, and for 1744-1824 on film 1657844. None of the inventories are available at BYU. The act books are on FHL/BYU films 96901 and 96904. See the Miscellaneous Section for abstracts of wills, 1620-1626 and 1629-1640.

Printed/Microfilmed Indexes/Calendars for the Archdeaconry Court of Sudbury

1354-1700, A-K, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 95
1354-1700, L-Z, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 96
1801-1858, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 118
These three volumes are part of the Index Library series (BRS) and have the same format as volumes 90-91 described above.

1847-1858, Beneficiaries Index, (FHL fiche 6393829)
See the above description for the Beneficiaries Index of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk.

1701-1800, (FHL/BYU films 97045-97046)
For the missing periods not covered by the printed indexes, use the calendar compiled by T.K. Crossfield for 1660-1858. A-L is on film 97045 and M-Z on film 97046.

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Archdeaconry Court of Sudbury

The Registered Copy Wills, Administration Act Books, and Inventories have been completely microfilmed. Missing from the microfilm collections are the original wills, 1595-1633 and 1636-1699. No administration bonds were filmed. The initial film for most of the original wills and act books is 1657536. The initial film for the registered copy wills, some original wills, and inventories is 97043. See the Miscellaneous Section for abstracts of wills, 1630-1638.

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.

"Unproved Wills, 1657-1710" (IC/500/1/312) are located on FHL film 1657998, item 1. There are 44 documents in this collection, most of which are in the printed indexes. Twenty-three of the documents are nuncupative wills. Document 43 is dated 1649. The following three wills are not in the printed indexes.
#3 is the will of William Orbell, the elder, clothier of Hartest, dated 1672.
#11 is the will of William Cooke, laborer of Carsey, dated 1665.
# 40 is the will of Elizabeth Goddard, widow of Hopton, dated 1710.

Another collection for 1734-1858 (IC/500/3/54) contains 42 wills on FHL film 1657523, item 3. There are at least 4 renunciations, 2 claims of creditors, and several documents involving the witnessing of interlined words in wills. Document 27 is a marriage license dated 18 June 1839 for John Smith, widower, and Elizabeth Gills to marry in Soham in Cambridge.

Indexes/Calendars for the Peculiar Court of Isleham & Freckenham

1556-1700, 1801-1858 (see volumes 95, 96 & 118 for Sudbury listed above.)
1847-1857, Beneficiaries Index, (FHL fiche 6393829). See the Archdeaconry of Suffolk for an online index.

This is a consolidated calendar for Isleham and Freckenham. Fortunately, the wills and administration bonds for 1748 onwards are in alphabetic order.

Wills, 1701-1758, & Administrations, 1701-1728, (FHL film 173512, items 1-2)

Microfilmed Probate Records for Freckenham

The original wills and administration bonds are all on FHL film 173516. The next to last document on this film is the will of William Stevenson, single man of Mildenhall proven in 1686. The Registered Copy Wills for Freckenham, 1613-1636, 1856, are mixed with those for Isleham on FHL/BYU film 167259. The inventories for Isleham appear first on FHL film 173517. They include 2 inventories for Freckenham: one for 1677 and the other in 1683. The group of inventories for Isleham is followed after a short break by those for Freckenham, 1661-1811. Along with the inventories are two administration bonds as follows: Grace Williams, widow, in 1712, and John Avy in 1704.

Miscellaneous Section

1. 1620-1626, Will Abstracts for the Archdeaconry of Suffolk (FHL 942.64 B4s) volumes 31 and 37. Volume 31 covers 1620-1624 and is also at BYU (CS 435 .S7 A45 1989). Volume 37 is 1625-1626 (BYU CS 435 .S7 W55 1995).
2. 1629-1640, Will Abstracts for the Archdeaconry of Suffolk (FHL 942.64 P2w).
3. 1630-1638, Will Abstracts for the Archdeaconry of Sudbury (FHL 942.64 B4s) volumes 29 and 35. Volume 29 covers 1630-1635 and is at BYU (CS 436 .S86 W55 1987).
4. Transcriptions of 54 registered copy wills proven at either Bury St.Edmunds or in the Archdeaconry of Sudbury were edited by Samuel Tymms for the Camden Society and published in 1850. The earliest will is for 1370, with 11 wills from the 1400s, 29 wills for 1501-1570, and 13 wills for 1613-1652. (FHL 942 B4ca) and (BYU DA 20 .R91) volume 49.
5. 1561-1566, Sudbury Archdeacon's Transcripts, (FHL film 1657998, item 4)
   Item 4 actually begins with a page of burials for an unspecified parish in 1563. This is followed by original wills numbered 1-217 for 1524-1553. Numbers 218-243 are not probate records. They are archdeacon's transcripts from some 20 parishes in the Deanery of Sudbury, mainly for 1563-1564. The earliest date for such transcripts is here extended by at least one year for the following parishes: Bildeston, Boxford, Brettenham, Chelsworth, Cockfield, Edwardstone, Glemsford, Great Waldingfield, Hartest, Lawshall, Layham, Lindsey, Little Cornard, Long Melford, Milden, Naughton, Polstead, Preston, Stanstead, Wattisham, and Wiston or Wissington.
6. 1281-1602, Will Abstracts for Ipswich Borough, (FHL 942.64 C4s) volume 15
   A "Calendar of Wills Enrolled Among the Records of the Ipswich Borough Corporation" was compiled by V.B. Redstone for the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and Natural History and published in 1913. The calendar/index is on pages 293-300 followed by some 45 abstracts of these wills on pages 301-304.
7. 1383-1604, Suffolk Wills in the PCC, (FHL 942.64 S2c)
   This list was compiled in 1913 by C.W.S. Randall Cloke.
8. Numerous entries of wills appear in the periodical, The East Anglian (FHL 942 B2ea)
   There are full transcripts for at least 4 wills in the Old Series, 1503-1521, and 15 in the New Series, 1496-1686. Some of the issues of this periodical are on film at BYU under AP 4 .E11x, reels 425-427.