Worcestershire

Worcester Wills Vol. I 1451-1600 & Vol. II 1601-1652

British Record Society Volumes 31 & 39

Published 1904 & 1910

Read the Original Introduction to BRS Volumes 31 & 39.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills are held at Worcestershire Record Office. To obtain copies of an original will or administration you need to contact Worcestershire Record Office by letter, fax or e-mail, giving full details (including source ie BRS volume number and which court etc) and references. They will then send you details on obtaining copies plus cost.

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

• Testator's name
• Abode
• Year of will
• Folio

About the index

This is index to wills and Administrations proved and granted in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester 1451-1600 and 1601-1652. And indexes both the registered copy wills through to 1642 and original wills through to 1600.

The Consistory Court of Worcester had jurisdiction throughout the county of Worcester plus southern part of Warwickshire.

What does the index include?

Indexes to these two volumes has been compiled by reference to the bundles of the actual documents themselves. All names and places appearing in the will where found in the original documents are included in the index.

The Registered Copy Wills are indexed first by volume (in which they appear), then the Original Wills by year. The actual printed index is arranged chronologically (by year) and then within this by folio number. Names in the index are according to the spelling used in the documents, usually based on the signature of the testator.

Dates of wills are given in 'Old Style' or Julian Calendar.

Notes

A large number of marriage licenses have been found on the files, together with many Inventories for which corresponding Wills do not appear to exist.