List of Wills-West Sussex

[Lady Di]

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

[sillgen]

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.

[Lady Di]

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

[sillgen]

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.

[Jill on the A272]

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

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

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.

[Lady Di]

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 

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

[sillgen]

Interesting list of wills, Jill.  They are fascinating.

[francis66]

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

[Lady Di]

Thanks for the link francis66

All suggestions are welcome.