Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Probate Records, 1483-1660 and Buckinghamshire Peculiars, 1420-1660

British Record Society volume 114

Published 2001

Read the introduction to the original volume.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

Most documents in the index are held in the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies. Except where the reference is preceded by the letters BLRO, ECL, HRO or ORO (see below Key to document).

Records of most peculiars formerly held at Oxford Archives can now also by found at the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies.

To obtain copies contact the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies by letter, fax or e-mail, giving full details and references. A detailed quotation (of cost) and copyright form will be sent to you.

Other Archdeaconries and Peculiars

Bedford

Those documents to be found within the archdeaconry of Bedford are to be found at Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service. To purchase a copy of this material contact the archives with all of the references from the index including the source i.e. BRS. They will then advise you of the cost etc. Full details are available on their website. You can visit the archives personally, details of opening hours etc can be found on their website.

St Albans

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies has records of those wills proved within the Archdeaconry of St Albans. Copies can either be ordered online using full details and references as found within the index or by letter, fax or e-mail, giving full details and references. A detailed quotation (of cost) and copyright form will be sent to you. You can visit the archives personally, details of opening hours etc can be found on their website.

Peculiar of Eton

For a copy of those documents found in the records of the peculiar of Eton contact the College Archivist at Eton College. You will need to make an appointment to visit the archives in person, see details on the college website.

What information from the document do I need to locate the original?

  • Testator's name
  • Year of will or admon
  • Court of probate
  • Folio
  • Any other references

Understanding the index

Which court or courts are included?

This volume indexes the wills and administrations and other probate material of the Archdeaconry Court of Buckinghamshire 1483 – 1660 and Buckinghamshire Peculiars 1420-1660.

Note - wills proved between 1649 and 1660 will be found in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) since during the civil war the church courts were abolished and a single centralised probate system was established. Between this time all wills were proved and all grants of administration made, at one central Court of Probate in London. This was really just the PCC under a different name and thus wills etc proved during this period will be found indexed within the PCC. See PCC volumes BRS 54, BRS 61, and Matthews 1-9 for this period.

Which diocese is involved?

The Archdeaconry of Buckinghamshire and Buckinghamshire peculiars were within the Diocese of Lincoln.

What does the index include?

  • All names and places appearing in the will plus incidental information such as occupation where found in the original documents are included in the index.
  • Testator's name
  • Residence
  • Occupation
  • Year of will or admon
  • Court of probate
  • Folio

    • Names are arranged alphabetically with spelling standardized to the most usual spelling. This means some name variants may not appear clustered together. Where there is an alias or alternative surname the entry is given under both names.

    Parish names have also been standardized.

    Dates of wills are given in New Style Calendar.

    The folio number identifies the group of pages, anywhere from 2 to 16, within which the will's first page appears.

    Key to document references and abbreviations

    All documents in the index are held in the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies (County Archives and Local Studies Library for Buckinghamshire) except where the reference is preceded by the letters BLRO, ECL, HRO or ORO (see below).

    Document references (Buckinghamshire Record Office – now Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies)

    AbbreviationMeaning
    WeIndicates a registered copy of a will or document in the records of the archdeaconry of Buckingham. The first number given is that of the volume and the second, that of the will. Entries other than wills are indicated by a folio number.
    WfIndicates a filed will or document (usually the original) in the archdeaconry records. (Note. The full references for citation are D/A/We, D/A/Wf)
    D/A/CIndicates a note of probate entered in the draft court book 15l9-21 (archdeaconry).
    D/A/VIndicates a copy will entered in the court book 1492-95 (archdeaconry).
    D/A/XIndicates a stray filed inventory (archdeaconry).
    PecIndicates a filed will or document in the records of a peculiar jurisdiction. The full reference for citation is MS. Wills Pec.
    c.312Indicates a copy will entered in the court book 1533-40 for Aylesbury peculiar. The full reference for citation is MS. Archd. Pprs. Bucks c.312).

    Abbreviations: prefixed to references (other record offices)

    AbbreviationMeaning
    BLROIndicates a will or document in the records of the archdeaconry of Bedford held in the Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Record Service.
    ECLIndicates a will or document in the records of the peculiar of Eton held at Eton College Library (registered copies only).
    HROIndicates a will or document in the records of the archdeaconry of St. Albans, held in the Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. The prefix ASA should be added. The letters AW indicate a filed will and AR a registered copy. The reference A25 indicates either an inventory (with suffix INV) or other probate document. The first number given is that of the register/bundle and the second that of the folio/item.
    OROIndicates a will or document in the records of a peculiar or the archdeaconry of Oxford previously held in the Oxfordshire Archives.

    Abbreviations: suffixed to references

    AbbreviationMeaning
    INVInventory. After a reference indicates that there is a probate inventory. For the archdeaconry of Buckingham, the inventory is normally in addition to a will or administration of the same reference, unless the entry indicates otherwise.
    PRProbate. After a reference indicates that the entry consists only of a record of a grant of probate or administration without the text of the will being given.

    Abbreviations: general

    AbbreviationMeaning
    acctProbate account relating to the execution of a will or administration.
    AdminAdministration of the goods of an intestate. Indicates registered grant or filed bond.
    fo.Folio (r and v after the folio number indicate recto and verso, respectively).
    NuncupNuncupative (ie. orally delivered) will.
    P.C.C.Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Indicates that a will is a copy of a will proved in this court or (1653-60 only) before the Commonwealth judges for probate.