Worcester (WOR)

Jurisdictions

1. The majority of parishes came under (A) the Consistory of Worcester.
2. The exceptions were some 22 parishes in the northwest under the Consistory of Hereford (see Hereford), some 7 parishes that belonged to (B) the Dean and Chapter of Worcester, and 7 parishes that held (C) peculiar jurisdiction. The exceptions are listed below:

Decision Table

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

1. Consistory Court of Worcester
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 Dean and Chapter of Worcester, search:

1. Dean and Chapter Court of Worcester
2. Do all of the steps under (A) above.

For those who lived in (C) the peculiar jurisdictions, search:

1. The respective peculiar court
2. Do all of the steps under (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 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. (see London: Estate Duty)

Indexes for the Consistory of Worcester

1. 1451-1600, Wills/Administrations/Inventories (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS 434 .B7), volume 31
   This is volume 31 of the Index Library series (BRS). It was published in 1904. It indexes both the Registered Copy Wills through 1642 and the Original Wills through 1600. It includes one will dated 1439, as well as some marriage licenses. The Registered Copy Wills are indexed first by volume (see below), then the Original Wills by year. There is both a name and place index.
2. 1601-1652, Original Wills/Administrations (FHL 942 B4b) & (BYU CS 434 .B7) volume 39
   This is volume 39 of the Index Library series (BRS). It was published in 1910. It is arranged by year and includes a name and place index.
3. 1661-1858, Wills/Administrations (FHL 942.47 P2e) volumes 1-4
   This is an index compiled by the FHL from the Act Books. Volume 1 covers 1661-1699, volume 2 is 1700-1749, volume 3 is 1750-1799, and volume 4 is 1800-1858. Volumes 3-4 for 1750-1858 are on film at BYU (film 547567, items 1-2).
4. 1858-1928, Worcestershire Wills Index (FHL CD-ROM no. 1671)
   This index was compiled by H.H. Gowers for the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry. The actual registers of civil wills, 1858-1928, for this county have been filmed. They start in the FHL catalog with film 916194.

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Consistory Court of Worcester

All of the pre-1858 probate records for this court have been microfilmed. The initial film in the FHL catalog for the Original Wills, Administrations and Inventories is 97879. Additional Administration Papers, 1536-1668, are on films 189641-189646. There is a small collection of guardianship bonds, 1708-1713, on film 189651.

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 www.familysearch.org may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

The Registered Copy Wills, 1451-1642, have been microfilmed twice. The first filming is as follows:

The second filming, 1451-1671, is on FHL films 994263-994265. The Registered Copy Wills, 1672-1739, are separately indexed on FHL film 98472. The Act Books, 1661-1856 are filed under the initial film 98473.

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 www.familysearch.org may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

There is also a section of what appears to be unindexed documents on films 189647-189650. Only film 189648 is at BYU. These documents should be included in any research involving the Consistory of Worcester, and in a few cases the peculiar courts.

The breakdown by microfilm is as follows:

Film 189647 includes wills, administrations and some inventories. There is one document as early as 1548 and one as late as 1855. Most are for 1592-1751. They are roughly in alphabetical order. A little over half way through the film the following archival note, presumably describing the next set of records on this film, appears: "from Parcel Labeled 'Bundle of unproved Wills' (18 & 19 Cent.)"

Film 189648 covers Bundles A-D of wills, administrations and inventories as follows:

• Bundle A consists of documents 1-57 for1714-1759. Some documents are labeled "not dispatched" and at least one as "not in Index." The following ones not pertaining to the Consistory of Worcester were noted in passing: #3 is for Benjamin Miles of Shipston on Stour in 1717; #6 for William Stopforth of Latham, Lancashire in 1726; #7 is for John Eckersal of Dean, Lancashire in 1729; and #8 is for Thomas Taylor of Knowle in Warwick, 1730. The documents are in rough chronological order and increase in number from about 1746.
• Bundle C comes next and is mostly administrations and inventories for 1683-1819. The documents are not numbered. At least 2 are not in the index and one is labeled as "not sworn." There is an entry under 1775 for John Fitter of Alvechurch.
• Bundle B consists of documents 1-41 for 1685-1814. Most are for 1760-1790. At least 9 of the documents are marked as "not proved," "never made out," "nothing received," or "not sworn." Document # 5 is for Robert Care of Bredon in 1772, and # 24 is for Mary Payton of Alvechurch in 1789.
• Bundle D seems to be documents 90-127 for 1727-1768.

Films 189649 and 189650 cover Bundles E-F and J for wills and inventories. They include some nuncupative wills and documents for the peculiars. The second part of film 189649 contains documents 1-62 of Bundle E for 1694-1750, documents 1-31 of Bundle F for 1808-1838, and Bundle J for 1675-1686. The documents in Bundle J appear to all be inventories and are not numbered. They continue on film 189650.

Microfilmed Calendar/Records for the Dean and Chapter of Worcester

The master calendar, 1668-1788, is on FHL/BYU film 97852. The documents for Norton near Kempsey follow on the same film. The documents for the other places in this court are on film as follows:

Microfilmed Probate Records for the Peculiar Courts in Worcester

(All of the probate records for these courts have been microfilmed. There is an index for part of the 18th century, plus wills in the Greenbank papers, in the first part of FHL film 189649. The act books can also be used as a rough 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 www.familysearch.org may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

Alvechurch or Allchurch
An index for 1744-1760 is on FHL film 189649. The act book, 1681-1716, is item 5 on FHL film 994257. The act book, 1718-1773, is folios 120-127 on FHL/BYU film 97859. Some entries are also found in the act book for Hampton Lucy on the same film. The initial film for the probate collection of Alvechurch is 97863.

Bredon
There are two indexes for 1752-1772 and 1758-1760 on FHL film 189649. The act book, 1717-1772, is folios 53-58 on FHL/BYU film 97859. The original records going back to 1668 are on FHL/BYU film 97862.

Fladbury
An index for 1762-1775 is on FHL film 189649. The act book, 1665-1729, is item 2 on FHL film 994258. The act book, 1721-1775, is folios 1-12 on FHL/BYU film 97859. The initial film for the collection is 97870.

Hanbury
There are two indexes for 1723-1784 and 1720-1733 on FHL film 189649. The act books, 1647-1710, 1720-1726, and 1735-1762, are items 3-5 of FHL film 994259. The act book for 1720-1784 is also folios 29-37 on FHL/BYU film 97859. The initial film for the collection is 97872.

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 www.familysearch.org may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

Hartlebury
There are two indexes for 1762-1771 and 1732-1784 on FHL film 189649. The act books, 1681-1706 and 1720-1735, are items 2-3 on FHL film 994260. The act book for 1720-1784 is also folios 110-119 on FHL/BYU film 97859. The initial film for this collection is 97860.

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 www.familysearch.org may be a little easier to use for that purpose.

Ripple
An index for 1746-1763 is on FHL film 189649. The act book, 1721-1769, is folios 21-23 and 37-42 on FHL/BYU film 97859. The collection of records is on FHL/BYU film 97876.

Tredington
There are two indexes for 1730-1739 and 1753-1772 on FHL film 189649. The act book, 1717-1788, is folios 78-97 on FHL/BYU film 97859. The initial film for this collection is 97865.

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 www.familysearch.org may be a little easier to use for that purpose.