Dorset

The Dorset records include two British Record Society volumes:

• Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Peculiar Courts 1500-1801 (BRS vol. 53, pp1-185)
• Dorset Wills & Administrations 1568-1799 (BRS vol. 22)

Dorset Wills & Administrations (Vol. II), Taunton Administrations (Parts III & IV)

British Record Society volume 53

Published 1921

Read the original introduction to BRS volume 53.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The majority of wills proved in the Dorset Peculiar Courts are now held at Dorset History Centre. The Dorset History Centre is the archives service and local studies library for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. To obtain copies contact the Dorset History Centre by letter, fax or e-mail, giving full details (including source ie BRS and which church court etc) and references. A detailed quotation (of cost) and copyright form will be sent to you.

About the index

This is an index to:

• Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Peculiar Courts 1500-1801, which had jurisdiction over some 39 Dorset parishes and hamlets.
• Taunton Archdeaconry Wills & Administrations 1537-1799
• Wills in the Royal Peculiar of Ilminster 1690-1857

As far as possible this brings together the known testamentary records relating to Dorset not included in BRS volume 22.

Records relating to the Peculiar of Sarum are deposited at Wiltshire and Swindon Archives.

The probate records for Taunton Archdeaconry and the Royal Peculiar of Ilminster were deposited at Exeter Principal Registry and were thus 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, and with much thanks to the work of Sir Mervyn Medlycott the location of over 15,000 copies of wills and administrations for Somerset have been determined. For more details contact the Somerset Heritage Centre.

Note - wills proved between 1649 and 1660 will be found in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) since during the civil war the church courts were abolished and a single centralised probate system was established. Between this time all wills were proved and all grants of administration made, at one central Court of Probate in London. This was really just the PCC under a different name and thus wills etc proved during this period will be found indexed within the PCC. See PCC volumes BRS 54, BRS 61, and Matthews 1-9 for this period.

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

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

Dorset Peculiar Courts in BRS volume 53

Dorset Wills & Administrations 1568-1799

British Record Society volume 22

Published 1900

Read the original introduction to BRS volume 22.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills are no longer at the Probate Registry in Blandford, Dorset but are now held at Dorset History Centre. The Dorset History Centre is the archives service and local studies library for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. To obtain copies contact the Dorset History Centre by letter, fax or e-mail, giving full details (including source ie BRS and which church court etc) and references. A detailed quotation (of cost) and copyright form will be sent to you.

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

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

About the index

This is an index of the original Wills, Administrations and Inventories etc for the Consistory Court of the Dorsetshire Division of the old Diocese of Bristol, from 1681 to 1792, those in the Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, from 1568 to 1793, and the following Peculiar Courts:

• Peculiar Court of Canford Magna and Poole, 1639-1799
• Peculiar Court of Corfe Castle, 1577-1799
• Court of the Royal Peculiar of Milton Abbas, 1675-1811 (together with Witcomb, Woolland and Holwarth)
• Peculiar Court of Sturminster Marshall, 1641-1799
• Peculiar Court of Wimborne Minster, 1590-1823