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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Sussex => Topic started by: Lady Di on Monday 01 August 16 10:04 BST (UK)

Title: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: Lady Di on Monday 01 August 16 10:04 BST (UK)
Hi Folks,

I'm sure there's an easy answer but I can't seem to find it  :-[

Where can I search for & order Wills in Sussex (pre 1800's)?
I've seen other RO's with Wills listed on their RO websites and you can order online from that list.

Must be something somewhere for Sussex I assume

Thanks

Di
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: sillgen on Monday 01 August 16 10:07 BST (UK)
Have you looked at the Chichester record office catalogue?     
Wills in West Sussex Record Office says
The following are available within the Record Office:

Original wills for the archdeaconry of Chichester, and the peculiar jurisdictions within it, up to 1858, together with those for the Chichester District Probate Registry, which covered most of West Sussex, up to 1928.
Microfilm copies of wills for the archdeaconry of Lewes, 1518-1858, the Archbishops Peculiar of South Malling 1588-1858 and Royal Peculiar of Battle 1531-1616, 1657-1730.
Microfiche for all the main series of pre-1858 probate records, and microfilm for probate records 1858-1900 - readers are asked to use them to save wear and tear on the originals.
Original wills from 1900-1928 for Chichester District Probate Registry.
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: Lady Di on Monday 01 August 16 10:14 BST (UK)
Thanks for your note sillgen - I have searched West Sussex RO but am unable to find any index for any wills.

I see that if you are able to visit then you can probably search for some wills on film. Unfortunately I can't visit their office at this time (too far from Oz)

Di
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: sillgen on Monday 01 August 16 18:15 BST (UK)
Have a look at the http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/    site.  They have the West Sussex catalogue online as well as the Canterbury court wills.  The latter cover a larger part of the country if people had land in more than one county.
What name are you looking for?   Someone local might go for you.
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: Jill on the A272 on Monday 01 August 16 19:13 BST (UK)
There's a list of the Consistory Court of Chichester wills here
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924009521307;view=1up;seq=105 (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924009521307;view=1up;seq=105)

Find My Past also has them (reference numbers not the wills)
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/sussex-chichester-consistory-court-wills-index-1482-1800 (http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/sussex-chichester-consistory-court-wills-index-1482-1800)

If you find one you want you can email West Sussex Record Office with the details and they get back to you with a quote of how much it will cost.
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: Lady Di on Tuesday 02 August 16 02:01 BST (UK)
I'm looking for the surname PRIOR or variations sillgen. Thanks for your suggestions re TNA but I have searched there.

Thanks Jill - looking thru that list of wills is frustrating... there's so many I'd really love to read  ;D

I'll try West Sussex RO to see if they have copies of a couple of "must haves"

Do REALLY hope they are same price or less than the TNA wills.

It's a shame that WSRO website isn't as comprehensive as many other archives.

Appreciate your help

Di
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: sillgen on Tuesday 02 August 16 08:23 BST (UK)
Interesting list of wills, Jill.  They are fascinating.
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: francis66 on Thursday 17 November 16 18:07 GMT (UK)
Sorry, ignore this, I see someone has already posted same link!

Try this link for the Calendar of Wills for West Sussex 1482-1800 proved in the court of Chichester

https://archive.org/stream/indexlibrary4919brit#page/n9/mode/2up



Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: Lady Di on Saturday 10 December 16 22:39 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the link francis66

All suggestions are welcome.
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: MattD30 on Thursday 19 January 17 00:02 GMT (UK)
Quote from: Lady Di on Tuesday 02 August 16 02:01 BST (UK)
I'm looking for the surname PRIOR or variations sillgen. Thanks for your suggestions re TNA but I have searched there.

Thanks Jill - looking thru that list of wills is frustrating... there's so many I'd really love to read  ;D

I'll try West Sussex RO to see if they have copies of a couple of "must haves"

Do REALLY hope they are same price or less than the TNA wills.

It's a shame that WSRO website isn't as comprehensive as many other archives.

Appreciate your help


Hi

I've just seen your message on the forum about Sussex wills and note that you're interested in the name Prior (and variations). What parts of the county are you interested in? I am also researching the name Prior/Pryor/Prier etc and would be interested to know if we have any connections.

Matt
Di
Title: Re: List of Wills-West Sussex
Post by: Lady Di on Saturday 11 February 17 06:06 GMT (UK)
Sorry for the delay in answering your question Matt

Unfortunately I've mislaid my Prior family notes but they were all Quakers and I was searching for details in the 1600's.

If you feel we may have any sort of connection I'll try and find my documents.

Cheers
Di