Yorkshire

There are three publications in this collection:

  • Wills in the York Registry 1389-1688 (YAS vols. 4, 6, 11, 14, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32, 35, 68, 89)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1666-1672 (YAS vol. 60)
  • Yorkshire Wills at Somerset House 1649-1660

Below are descriptions of the publications and details about where to access the original documents.

Wills in the York Registry 1389-1688

Read the publication's Original Introduction.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills and administrations are now held at The Borthwick Institute York.

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

  • Testator's name
  • Abode
  • Year of will
  • Folio

About the index

This set of indexes were published in 21 volumes by the Yorkshire Archaeological Society (YAS) between 1888 and 1934. The set here is unique, as it comprises the copies currently used internally by the Borthwick Institute for Archives, which are heavily annotated with additions and corrections.

These volumes include indexes to the wills and admons proved in the Prerogative Court of York, Exchequer Court of York and the Court of the Dean and Chapter of York 1389-1688.

The Wills in the York Registry set of indexes comprises:

  • Wills in the York Registry 1389-1514 (Yorkshire Archaelogical Society (YAS) volume 6)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1514-1553 (YAS volume 11)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1554-1568 (YAS volume 14)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1568-1585 (YAS volume 19)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1585-1594 (YAS volume 22)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1594-1602 (YAS volume 24)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1603-1611 (YAS volume 26)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1612-1619 (YAS volume 28)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1620-1627 (YAS volume 32)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1627-1636, Administrations 1627-1652 (YAS volume 35)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1636-1652 (YAS volume 4)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1660-1665, and unregistered wills & probate acts 1633-1634 (YAS volume 49)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1673-1680 (YAS volume 68)
  • Wills in the York Registry 1681-1688 (YAS volume 89)

Wills in the York Registry 1666-1672

Yorkshire Archaeological Society volume 60

Read the Original Introduction of the publication.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills and administrations are now held at The Borthwick Institute York.

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

  • Testator's name
  • Abode
  • Year of will
  • Folio

About the index

This index, covering the Registers of York Wills numbered 48 to 53, both inclusive, the corresponding Acts, and the extant documents of certain Peculiars, containing about 9,800 references.

This volume contains the following:

  • Wills, proved in the Exchequer and Prerogative Courts 1666- 1672
  • Administration Acts and Probate acts (when the will is unregistered) 1666- 1672. The Act Books for the Ainsty, City and Craven deaneries, which are missing from 1641, recommence in 1668, during the period covered by this volume.

    • The Peculiars

    • The Peculiar of Aldborough, par. of St. John, Stanwick Manor Court 1610 - 1700.
    • The Peculiar of the Provost of St. John's, Beverley 1539-1552. The jurisdiction of the provost extended over places in Beverley and in the parishes of Bilton in Holderness, Brandsburton, Burton Pidsea, Cherry or North Burton, Drypool, Foston (nr. Driffield), Gatehelmsley, Leckonfield, Leven, Lowthorpe, Middleton on the Wolds, Ottringham, Pattrington, Routh, Ruston, Scorborough, Sigglesthorne, South Dalton, Walkington, Welwick and Wetwang.
    • The Archbishop's Peculiar of Hexham and Hexhamshire 1593-1602. The jurisdiction of the Archbishop in this peculiar extended over the parishes of Hexham, Allendale, St. John Lee, St. Oswald, and St. Mary, Bingfield.
    • The Peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York 1336-1343 and 1352-1429. Nearly all the testators belonged to the parish of Bishophill, the younger, which included Copmanthorpe, but Aldborough (W.R.), Hessle, and All Saints, North Street, Badgergate, Holgate, and St. Crux, Pavement, in York
    • The Peculiar of St. Leonard's Hospital, York 1410-1533. The jurisdiction apparently extended over places in the following parishes, Carnaby, North and South Cave, Hotham and Nunburnholme in the East Riding; Burniston, Kirkby, Newton on Ouse, Overhelmsley, Pickhill and Topcliffe in the North Riding; Gisburn, Rufforth and Saxton in the West Riding; and All Saints, North Street, St. Hellen's, Stonegate, St. Giles, Gillygate, and St. Lawrence in the city of York. But a very large proportion of the business of the peculiar emanated from the parish of Newton on Ouse.

Yorkshire Wills at Somerset House 1649-1660

Yorkshire Archaelogical Society (YAS) volume 1

Published 1883

Read the Original Introduction of the publication.

Locating the original documents

Where are the originals held?

The original wills are no longer at Somerset House, but are now held at The National Archives, Kew. Copies can be purchased on The National Archives website. Use the online records to identify the document found here in the Yorkshire wills index. You can place an order from the screen that shows the document details.

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

  • Testator's name
  • Date of will NOTE: this will be different from the date of probate, which is what you see in the online records at The National Archives. A will may have been written days, weeks or years before death and probate occurred.
  • These two facts should be sufficient for locating the testator's name in the index at The National Archives. Some other facts may be useful for identification: place of residence, folio number, occupation.