London

There are six British Record Society publications included in this collection:

  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London Vol. I 1374-1488 (BRS vol. 82)
  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London Vol. II 1489-1570 (BRS vol. 86)
  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London Vol. III 1571-1625 (BRS vol. 97)
  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London, Vol IV Parts I-III 1626-1649, 1661-1700 (BRS vols. 102, 108, 111)
  • Archdeaconry Court of London Probate Records Vol. I 1393-1649 (BRS vol. 89)
  • Testamentary Records in the Archdeaconry Court of London Vol. II 1661-1700 (BRS vol. 98)

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills are no longer at the Guildhall Library, but are now held at The London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). To purchase a copy of the will you need to contact LMA for an order form. Upon completing the form you will need to provide all the information given in the index including the source of the information ie BRS and the specific church court.

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

  • Testator's name
  • Year of will or admon
  • Register
  • Folio

About the index

  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London Vol. I 1374-1488 (BRS vol. 82) - Original Introduction
  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London Vol. II 1489-1570 (BRS vol. 86) - Original Introduction
  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London Vol. III 1571-1625 (BRS vol. 97) - Original Introduction
  • Testamentary Records in the Commissary Court of London, Vol IV Parts I-III 1626-1649, 1661-1700 (BRS vols. 102, 108, 111) - Original Introduction

British Record Society volumes 82, 86, 97, 102, 108 and 111 are a complete index to all names mentioned in wills proved in The London division of the Commissary Court. The index was created from the actual wills, Probate Acts and Acts of Administration and pre dates the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) by 9 years.

The Commissary Court of London had jurisdiction throughout the city of London and suburbs, and the deaneries of Middlesex and Barking.

About the index

  • Archdeaconry Court of London Probate Records Vol. I 1393-1649 (BRS vol. 89) - Original Introduction
  • Testamentary Records in the Archdeaconry Court of London Vol. II 1661-1700 (BRS vol. 98) - Original Introduction

British Record Society volumes 89 and 98 are a complete index to all names mentioned in wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of London. The index was created from the actual wills, Probate Acts and Acts of Administration.

The Archdeaconry Court of London had jurisdiction over about 40 parishes in the city of London plus 3 parishes bordering it.

The Commissary Court of London indexes, includes a large number of provincial and foreign place names, references that would appear external to its jurisdiction. This includes names of people dying overseas that in theory should be found in the PCC including references to the East India Company its voyages ships and crews. Many French and Dutch settlers, resident in London refugees from religious persecution are also included.

Names are arranged alphabetically. This means some name variants may not appear clustered together. Names in the index are according to the spelling used in the documents, usually based on the signaturee of the testator.

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

Notes

  • The classification of surname variants has been largely based on Dr. P. M. Reaney's Dictionary of British Surnames, London 1958.
  • Modern equivalents, so far as possible and practical, have been adopted for surname headings, Christian names and place or parish names; houses, streets and other property names have been given in the original spelling House and estate names are enclosed within inverted commas.
  • "W" followed by a year date, preceding the date of probate in the year column, indicates the date at which the Will was made if it preceded probate by five years or more, e.g. W 1443, 1448, means that the Will in question is dated 1443, but probate was granted in 1448.
  • A year date in brackets, e g (1400), indicates that the date has been deduced either from the position of the Will in the Register, or from the name of the official granting probate whose years of office are known.
  • A year date in brackets followed by ?, e.g. (1400 ?), indicates that doubt is due to an undated entry which has evidently been inserted later.
  • A year date followed by (?), e.g. 1400(?) indicates either that confusion has arisen between regnal and calendar years, or the arrangement of the entries in the register is not in strict chronological order.
  • "etc" = other unnamed property in named parishes.
  • etc = other named parishes.
  • / - between place names indicated that the property of testator was between the places or at the corner of the streets mentioned.
  • Information in angle brackets, < >, is derived from Original Wills.
  • Information in square brackets, [ ], is derived from the Probate and Administration Act Books.
  • Information in round brackets, ( ), is editorial comment or additions.