Surrey (SRY)

Jurisdictions

1. The majority of parishes belonged to (A) the Archdeaconry of Surrey and (B) the Commissary of Winchester, which held concurrent jurisdiction with the Archdeaconry from 1662-1858. Both courts should be searched during that time period.
2. The exceptions include some parishes transferred to other jurisdictions in the 19th century. For those parishes transferred in 1846, it would be wise to search the Archdeaconry of Surrey and the Commissary of Winchester as well as the Consistory of London. The major exceptions are those parishes belonging to (C) the Deanery of Croydon that held peculiar jurisdiction under the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Decision Table

For those who lived in (A-B) the Archdeaconry of Surrey, search:

1. Archdeaconry Court of Surrey and Commissary Court of Winchester
2. Pre-1662, Consistory Court of Winchester (see Hampshire)
3. Prerogative Court of Canterbury (see London: PCC)
4. Court of Arches, 1660- (see London: Arches)
5. Court of Delegates, 1636- (see London: Delegates)

For those who lived in (C) the Deanery of Croydon, search:

1. Deanery of Croydon
2. Do 3-5 as in (A) 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, 1812-1857, regardless of what is found in the probate records of any of the above courts, should consider searching also the estate duty registers. (see London: Estate Duty)

Online Indexes for Surrey

Surrey Plus Wills Index at Rootsweb.com has the goal to index the "names of all people" in Surrey wills and those of surrounding counties. Currently, they have indexed some 4500 wills.

FindMyPast has "fully indexed abstracts" of all wills from the Archdeaconry of Surrey and Commissary of Winchester courts from 1470-1858. This is the work of Cliff Webb. See the Miscellaneous Section for further details.

Printed Indexes for the Archdeaconry Court of Surrey

Pre-1650, Union Index, (FHL 942 B4b) and (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 99
This index was compiled by Cliff Webb and published as part of the Index Library series (BRS). As a union index, it identifies all known probate collections for Surrey in any archives/library, including the London Metropolitan Archives where the originals are stored and the microfilms of the FHL. It is wise to read his introduction starting on page xv and to compare his detailed listings on pages xviii-xxiii with the catalog entries of the FHL. The Place Index is useful for migration studies. It lists 5 foreign countries but none for the Americas. Outside of the neighboring counties, it lists 7 or more wills for Gloucester (7), Hertford (7), Lincoln (12), Wiltshire (9), and York (16).

1660-1751, Wills, (FHL 942.21 B4r) volume 21
This is Cliff Webb's index to original wills collated with the act books and registered copy wills. It was published by the West Surrey Family History Society in 1996.

1752-1858, Wills, (FHL 942.21 B4r 1994) volume 1
See the above entry. Be sure to use the 2nd edition published in 1994.

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Archdeaconry Court of Surrey

All of the act books and registered copy wills for the archdeaconry were microfilmed. Unfortunately, the volumes of registered copy wills end in 1821, and the original wills were only filmed from 1534-1649 and 1660-1671. There are abstracts to cover the gaps in the registered copy wills before 1671 but not afterwards. There is also an online site containing many wills for Surrey. See the Miscellaneous Section for the abstracts and online site. For wills missing from the microfilm collection, especially from 1822-1858, it will be necessary to contact the London Metropolitan Archives. To find the current address, go to GENUKI on the web and check under Surrey, "Archives and Libraries."

The initial film number for the microfilmed collection of wills is FHL 97152.

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 act books consist of 7 volumes filmed as follows:

• 1674-1679 and 1684-1686, (FHL/BYU film, 97222, item 1)
• 1725-1738, item 2 of the above film.
• 1739-1750, item 3 of the above film. These 3 volumes are not indexed but they are arranged chronologically with the surnames in the margin. The following act books are arranged in the same way, but are all preceded by a calendar.
• 1751-1763, (FHL/BYU film, 97151, item 1)
• 1764-1792, item 2 of the above film.
• 1792-1845, item 3 of the above film.
• 1846-1858, item 4 of the above film.

Printed Indexes for the Commissary Court of Winchester

1660-1751, Wills, (FHL 942.21 B4r) volume 23
Cliff Webb's index was published by the West Surrey Family History Society in 1997.

1752-1858, Wills/Administrations, (FHL 942.21 B4r 1998) volume 3
See the above entry. Be sure to use this 3rd edition. BYU has the 1st edition.

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Commissary Court of Winchester

All of the act books and registered copy wills for the Commissary Court were microfilmed. The original wills were only filmed for 1663-1673 and 1697-1728. There are abstracts for 1662-1673 listed in the Miscellaneous Section. The Administration bonds do not appear to have been filmed, but the act books can be used to compensate. The initial film number for the microfilmed collection of wills is FHL 97177.

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.

Most of the volumes of act books are preceded by a calendar. The act books are arranged like those for the Archdeaconry of Surrey and have been filmed as follows:

• 1662-1665, (FHL/BYU film 91223, item 1) There is no index but the acts are followed by licenses, 1662-1667, including marriage licenses.
• 1665-1672, item 2 of the above film. No index. The 2 entries for 1665 are at the end.
• 1672-1674, (FHL/BYU film 97173, item 3)
• 1674-1679, item 4 of the above film.
• 1680-1686, (FHL/BYU film 97174, item 1)
• 1686-1691, (FHL/BYU film 91223, item 3) No index.
• 1692-1701, item 4 of the above film. No index. These entries actually end with 1698 followed by one entry for 1701.
• 1705-1708, (FHL/BYU film 97174, item 3)
• 1708-1718, item 4 of the above film.
• 1718-1726, (FHL/BYU film 97175, item 1)
• 1731-1741, item 3 of the above film.
• 1742-1752, item 4 of the above film.
• 1753-1773, (FHL/BYU film 97176, item 1)
• 1774-1823, item 2 of the above film.
• 1824-1858, item 3 of the above film.

Indexes/Microfilmed Records for the Deanery of Croydon

Pre-1650, 481 wills found for Surrey parishes in the records of the Deanery of Croydon are indexed in Cliff Webb's Union Index (see the indexes for the Archdeaconry of Surrey above).

1614-1821, 1841, Calendar of all probate records for the Deaneries of Shoreham and Croydon (FHL and BYU film 189094) See London for further details.

1660-1751, Printed Index Deanery of Croydon (FHL 942.21 B4r) volume 25
(Cliff Webb's index to wills, administrations, and act books for Surrey in this deanery)

1752-1828, Printed Index--Deanery of Croydon (FHL 942.21 B4r 1998) vol. 3
Cliff Webb's index to wills, administrations, and act books but just for Surrey is in the back of this volume.

1629-1841, (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 98
This is the second part of volume 98 of the Index Library series (BRS). It includes an index to all the registered probate records in the Deaneries of Arches, Croydon, and Shoreham.

All of the probate records for the Deanery of Croydon have been microfilmed. The microfilms of the three deaneries are combined in one collection in the FHL catalog starting with film 91789. The registered documents tend to be mixed for the three deaneries. The original wills/administrations begin in 1602 for the Deanery of Croydon and are in one series with Shoreham starting with FHL film 189094.

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.

Miscellaneous Section

NOTE: since the formation of this section, Cliff Webb's abstracts of all wills, 1470-1856 in 41 volumes, from both the archdeaconry and commissary courts have been put online. See FindMyPast to find "Surrey & South London Will Abstracts 1470-1858" and the "National Wills Index." FindMyPast is a subscription site but is free at the FHL and on FamilySearch through Partner Access. Additional volumes for Cliff Webb's abstracts are listed in the FHL catalog.

Note: Items 1-10 may be found in the pre-1650 abstracts included in Cliff Webb's Union Index (see the indexes for the Archdeaconry of Surrey for further details) and Michael Gallafent's "Collection of the Published Wills of Surrey" on CD-ROM no. 2050.

1. 1484-1490, Abstracts, (FHL 942.21 B4s) & (BYU CS 435 .S87) volume 5
   These abstracts are of the wills in Volume 1 (Spage) of the registered copy wills of the Archdeaconry of Surrey.
2. 1595-1608, Abstracts, (FHL 942.21 B4s) volume 4, parts I-III
   These are abstracts of the wills in Volume 7 (Herringman) of the registered copy wills of the Archdeaconry of Surrey. Part I covers 1595-1600, part II is 1600-1607/8, and part III is 1607/8-1608.
3. 1534-1559, 1561-1649, Abstracts, (FHL 942.21 P28s) volumes 14-18
   These are Cliff Webb's abstracts of original and unregistered wills from the Archdeaconry of Surrey.
4. 1660-1671, Abstracts, (FHL 942.21 P28s) volume 20
   These are Cliff Webb's abstracts from registered and unregistered wills from the Archdeaconry of Surrey.
5. 1662-1673, Abstracts, (FHL 942.21 P28s) volume 19
   These are Cliff Webb's abstracts of original and unregistered wills from the Commissary Court of Winchester.
6. Wills, Administrations and Inventories with the Winchester Diocesan Records (FHL 942.27 P22w). This compilation by Arthur J. Willis includes references to Surrey.
7. Index to Surrey Probate Inventories, 16th to 19th Centuries (FHL 942.21 P22h)
   This index was made by Joan Holman and Marion Herridge and published by the Domestic Building Research Group in 1986. In conjunction with this index, see Surrey Probate Inventories: 1558-1603 by D.M. Herridge. (FHL 942.21 B4s) volume 39)
8. 1471-1520, 1600-1611, Abstracts of Surrey Wills in the PCC (FHL 942.21 B5s)
   Numerous abstracts were printed in Surrey Archaeological Collections . For Surrey wills in general, check the combined indexes for volumes 1-20 and 21-38. The PCC abstracts are in volumes 10:143-9 & 295-315, 11:106-39 & 285-300, 12:83-107 & 194-210, 13:95-109 & 177-96, 23:133-48, 24:56-69, 35:30-48, 51:82-96, and 52:32-49. Those abstracts in volumes 10-13 are also available under FHL 942.21 S2cr. Those in volumes 23-24 were reprinted under FHL 942 A1 #692.
9. 1650-1700, Index to Surrey Wills in the PCC (FHL 942.21 B4r) volume 9
10. 1760-1790, Surrey Administrations from the PCC (FHL 942.21 B4r) volumes 17, 30
    These were compiled by Alfred R. Bax and indexed by Cliff Webb.