WILLS PROVED IN THE PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY
(PCC)
Transcribed and donated to the Dorset OPC Project by Kim Parker
Until 1858 all wills had to be proved (formally approved) by church and other courts. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), the most important of these courts, dealt with the relatively wealthy individuals living mainly in the south of England and most of Wales (what was originally the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury). Over time, the PCC gained a good reputation for efficiency, so individuals of all levels of wealth began to have wills proved there. Wills made by less wealthy individuals may also have been proved in a number of other ecclesiastical courts, such as the Archdeaconry Court of Taunton. From 1858 all wills were indexed centrally and this index is widely available at Record Offices, Probate Registries and the LDS Church.
The following wills proven in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury can be downloaded from the PRO site National Archives Discovery Catalogue for a small fee.
|
NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
DATE |
REFERENCE |
|
BRAGG |
Will of Margarett Bragg, Widow of Seaborough, Somerset |
28 November 1674 |
PROB 11/346 |
|
BRAYNE / BRAYN |
Will of Richard Brayne or Brayn, Clerk of Seaborough, Somerset |
07 December 1678 |
PROB 11/358 |
|
CASE |
Will of John Case, Yeoman of Seaborough, Somerset |
05 April 1707 |
PROB 11/493 |
|
CAYLAY / CAYLEY |
Will of Sarah Caylay or Cayley, Widow of Seaborough, Somerset |
02 July 1791 |
PROB 11/1206 |
|
CHILCOTT |
Will of John Chilcott, Husbandman of Seaborough, Somerset |
28 January 1577 |
PROB 11/59 |
|
DRAPER |
Will of Reverend James Draper, Clerk of Seaborough, Somerset |
22 March 1837 |
PROB 11/1874 |
|
GOULDE |
Will of Elizabeth Goulde, Widow of Seaborough, Somerset |
12 February 1585 |
PROB 11/68 |
|
IRELAND |
Will of John Ireland, Yeoman of Seaborough, Somerset |
22 August 1778 |
PROB 11/1044 |
|
MARTIN |
Will of Adam Martin of Seaborough, Somerset |
15 February 1739 |
PROB 11/694 |
|
MARTIN |
Will of Adam Martin of Seaborough, Somerset |
27 September 1783 |
PROB 11/1108 |
|
MAYNARD |
Will of Forster Maynard of Seaborough, Somerset |
12 April 1845 |
PROB 11/2016 |
|
NORRIS |
Will of William Norris, Yeoman of Seaborough, Somerset |
26 September 1659 |
PROB 11/295 |
|
PINNEY |
Will of John Pinney of Seaborough, Somerset |
11 December 1834 |
PROB 11/1840 |
|
RIDOUT |
Will of Thomas Ridout, Gentleman of Seaborough, Somerset |
05 August 1807 |
PROB 11/1466 |
|
TEMPLEMAN |
Will of Giles Templeman, Yeoman of Seaborough, Somerset |
20 December 1843 |
PROB 11/1990 |
|
VICTIN |
Will of John Victin, Husbandman of Seaborough, Somerset |
15 May 1651 |
PROB 11/216 |
|
WILLS |
Will of Thomas Wills, Yeoman of Seaborough, Somerset |
09 November 1640 |
PROB 11/184 |