Devon & Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall include:

• Cornwall Archdeaconry Wills & Administrations Vols. I & II, 1569-1799 (BRS vols. 56 & 59)
• Wills and Administrations Exeter Principal Registry 1559-1799 (Devon and Cornwall) & Wills and Administrations Archdeaconry of Exeter (Devon) 1540-1799 (BRS vol. 35)
• Exeter Consistory Wills and Administrations 1532-1800 (BRS vol. 46)

Cornwall Archdeaconry Wills & Administrations 1569-1799

Vol. I 1569-1699, British Record Society volume 56

Vol. II 1700-1799, British Record Society volume 59

Read the original introduction to Cornwall Archdeaconry Wills & Administrations 1569-1799.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills are held at Cornwall Record Office. To obtain copies it is necessary to complete the relevant order form and pay the appropriate charge.

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

• Testator's name
• Place of residence
• Year of will or admon

About the index

This is a complete index to all names mentioned in wills proved in the Archdeaconry Court of Cornwall. The index was created from the actual wills and Acts of Administration.

The Archdeaconry of Cornwall comprised the greater part of Cornwall, and five parishes in Devon (Broadwood-Widger, St. Giles on the Heath, North Petherwin, Virginstow, and Werrington).

Wills and Administrations Exeter Principal Registry 1559-1799 (Devon and Cornwall)

Wills and Administrations Archdeaconry of Exeter (Devon) 1540-1799

Read the original introduction to both volumes.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

All of the probate records for the county of Devon and Diocese of Exeter including the Exeter Principal Registry and the Archdeaconry of Exeter were destroyed by enemy action in 1942, when the Probate Registry was destroyed in the bombing during the Exeter Blitz of WWII.

As an ongoing process, a very small number of copies of wills and administrations have been deposited at both Cornwall Record Office and Devon Record Office, since then usually as part of family, estate or solicitors' collections.

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

• Testator's name
• Residence
• Year of will or admon
• Page or Folio (where given)

About the index

The Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter had jurisdiction throughout the county of Devon and sole jurisdiction in 14 Devon parishes, which were peculiars of the bishop. Whilst the consistory court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter had jurisdiction over that particular archdeaconry.

This is an alphabetical calendar of original wills and administrations, which were in existence for both of these courts in 1914 when this volume was originally published.

Exeter Consistory Wills and Administrations 1532-1800

British Record Society volume 46

Read the original introduction to the volume.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

All of the probate records for the county of Devon and Diocese of Exeter including the Exeter Principal Registry and the Archdeaconry of Exeter were destroyed by enemy action in 1942, when the Probate Registry was destroyed in the bombing during the Exeter Blitz of WWII.

As an ongoing process, a very small number of copies of wills and administrations have been deposited at both Cornwall Record Office and Devon Record Office, since then usually as part of family, estate or solicitors' collections.

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

The Consistory Court of the Bishop of Exeter had jurisdiction over thirty-seven parishes in the counties of Devon and Cornwall which were Peculiars of the Bishop, as well as power to grant Probates of Wills per testes over the whole Diocese, when there were not considerable assets within two or more jurisdictions within the Diocese.

This is an alphabetical calendar of original wills and administrations, which were in existence for this court prior to 1942 when this volume was originally published.