Search England & Wales Published Wills & Probate Index, 1300 - 1858

These probate indexes contain names, dates and places from several million wills and other probate documents from across Britain and span more than 500 years.

Each entry in the various index publications will include a name, place, date and most will include an occupation or marital status.

To understand the details listed in each entry, refer to the England & Wales Published Wills & Probate Indexes, 1300-1858 volumes available in the Useful Links and Resources section of the record search screen. This resource will add valuable insight to the publication and the information found within the index.

Many of the indexes will abbreviate names, places or general terms. A glossary of abbreviations is available under Useful Links and Resources.

This record set includes:

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Administrations, 1671 – 1700

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Administrations, 1620 – 1630

Prerogative Court of Canterbury probate indexes

Wills in the York Registry, 1389 - 1688

The collection offers exclusive online access to British Record Society (BRS) and other probate collections. The collection includes complementary probate index volumes, namely:

Matthews’ volumes covering the Commonwealth period after the English Civil War

Morrison volumes covering missing gaps from the BRS collection in the 17th Century

Yorkshire Archaeological Society probate index

The BRS was established in 1889 to compile, edit and publish indexes, calendars and transcripts of historical records in public or private custody around Great Britain. For many years it has focused on producing indexes to English probate records to facilitate the study of English history and genealogy.