Consistory Court of the Bishop of Chichester. 1482-1800

[MattD30]

Does anyone know where I can access wills proved in this court? Would they be available online anywhere or just at Chichester?

I have found an index to these wills on Google books and also Findmypast. The index on Google gives references such as:

Name                 Volume   Page  Year
John Clement         35       340    1739
Thomas Clement    32       332    1720
Thomas Redman    7         76b    1630

Any suggestions would be very gratefully welcomed.

Matt

[Guy Etchells]

As far as I know the only place to access the wills is West Sussex Record Office, Chichester.

Familysearch gives more details of what is available online but it all seems to be Calendars, i.e. indexes rather than the full wills.

See
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jd7/

Cheers
Guy

[MattD30]

As far as I know the only place to access the wills is West Sussex Record Office, Chichester.

Familysearch gives more details of what is available online but it all seems to be Calendars, i.e. indexes rather than the full wills.

See
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jd7/

Cheers
Guy

Hi Guy

Many thank for the info. I suspected that was the case but was hoping I'd also find them online and avoid the train journey. Thankfully I've got some time off work so I might be planning a visit to the WSRO. Do you think they will have wills that were proved in the Archdeaconry of Lewes too or will they only be at Lewes?

Matt

[Guy Etchells]

According to their web page at

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jdk/

They hold microfilm copies of the Lewes Wills see page for dates.

Cheers
Guy

[MattD30]

According to their web page at

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jdk/

They hold microfilm copies of the Lewes Wills see page for dates.

Cheers
Guy

Thanks again.

[Little Nell]

Matt

If you sign up for a free account on FamilySearch, you can view the microfilm images for the Archdeaconry of Lewes, South Malling and other courts.  See this link for Lewes probate records viewable online:

https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/685691?availability=Family%20History%20Library

This one is for Chichester Consistory Court:

https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/567239?availability=Family%20History%20Library

You need to look for the items with a camera next to them rather than the film canister.

It is not possible to download the images, but you can view them online.  It might be tedious scrolling through (for Lewes, I look at the ESRO catalogue to help me guesstimate roughly where they are in the film), but if it is not possible to get to the record office or a FHS centre, it can be very useful.

Nell

[MattD30]

Matt

If you sign up for a free account on FamilySearch, you can view the microfilm images for the Archdeaconry of Lewes, South Malling and other courts.  See this link for Lewes probate records viewable online:

https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/685691?availability=Family%20History%20Library

This one is for Chichester Consistory Court:

https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/567239?availability=Family%20History%20Library

You need to look for the items with a camera next to them rather than the film canister.

It is not possible to download the images, but you can view them online.  It might be tedious scrolling through (for Lewes, I look at the ESRO catalogue to help me guesstimate roughly where they are in the film), but if it is not possible to get to the record office or a FHS centre, it can be very useful.

Nell

Hi Nell

I have an account and I'm just finding out that it's possible to view the images myself which is good. How do you use the ESRO catalogue to help you? I am planning a visit to the Family History Centre at Kew next week so I am hoping I can download all the wills I'm after there.

Thanks again

Matt

[Little Nell]

For Lewes and South Malling wills for example, I look in the catalogue for the entry.  Then choose the "Browse by heirarchy" tab to see other names close to the one I'm interested in, so that when I look at the film images I can make educated guesses as to where in the film it might be, scrolling back or forwards as appropriate.

I am planning a visit to the Family History Centre at Kew next week so I am hoping I can download all the wills I'm after there.

I'm not sure how you can download them if you are using the online facility, unless there are different protocols at Kew?  I have to admit I save screen shots and peruse them later.  Works well for me 

Nell

[MattD30]

For Lewes and South Malling wills for example, I look in the catalogue for the entry.  Then choose the "Browse by heirarchy" tab to see other names close to the one I'm interested in, so that when I look at the film images I can make educated guesses as to where in the film it might be, scrolling back or forwards as appropriate.

I am planning a visit to the Family History Centre at Kew next week so I am hoping I can download all the wills I'm after there.

I'm not sure how you can download them if you are using the online facility, unless there are different protocols at Kew?  I have to admit I save screen shots and peruse them later.  Works well for me 

Nell

Hi Nell

Thanks for that help. I've just had a look on the FamilySearch website catalogue but I'm not sure how to "browse by hierarchy" as you suggested, am I doing it wrong?

I was at the Family History Centre in Kew a couple of weeks ago and they have printing facilities but also you can save the images to a USB stick as well.

Thanks again

Matt