What are wills?

A will is a document drawn up by an individual wishing to settle his or her affairs prior to death. From the Middle Ages onwards, all wills had to be formally approved or proved. The system of proving that a will is genuine is known as probate jurisdiction. Before 1858 there was no single place at which wills were proved. Most wills were proved in the courts of the Church of England, but various lords of the manor also claimed probate jurisdiction rights in certain areas.

Following the Statute of Wills (1540), wills were divided into two parts: the will itself dealing with real property (land), and the testament, dealing with moveable property (often specified in an accompanying inventory). Letters of administration or 'Admons' were granted in the case of those who had died intestate i.e. without leaving a will. A probate bond is a statement in which an administrator other than an executor named in the will gives a guarantee that they will administer the estate in accordance with the will or administration.

What changed in 1858?

The system of proving wills in church and manorial courts was abolished in 1858. Probate jurisdiction was transferred to a new secular Court of Probate.

Where do I find Yorkshire wills?

Most Yorkshire wills for the period before 1858 were proved in the courts of the Archbishop of York. These wills are now held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, telephone +44 (0)1904 321166.

The following wills and probate documents are held at the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds:

Archdeaconry of Richmond

Eastern Deaneries, i.e. deaneries of Richmond, Catterick and Boroughbridge, in the former North and West Ridings.

• Original wills, administrations and inventories 1521-1857
• Register of wills 1474-1490, 1503, 1529-1585, 1720-1731, 1783-1788 (fragmentary before 1529)
• Manuscript indexes of wills and administrations (including some wills no longer existing) c. 1427-1857

For further information about these records please see Archdeaconry of Richmond Probate Records

Altofts, West Riding

• Wills, administrations and inventories 1622-1677
• Details can be found in Northern Genealogist 1

Arkengarthdale with New Forest and Hope, North Riding

• Wills, administrations and inventories with index 1698-1812

Hunsingore, West Riding

Included Cattal, Great Ribson and Walshford.

• Wills, administrations and inventories with index 1607-1839

Knaresborough, West Riding

Included parishes of Knaresborough, Burton Leonard, Farnham, Fewston, Great Ouseburn, Hampsthwaite, Pannal, South Stainley with Cayton and Staveley, and townships of Castley, Clint, Coneythorpe, Dunkeswick, Low and High Harrogate, Haveral Park, Killinghall, Lindley, Little Ribston, Plompton, Rigton, Stainburn, Swindon and Weeton.

• Wills, administrations and inventories 1640-1858
• Index printed by G Collins in Surtees Society vol. 100. (Earlier wills printed in Surtees Society vol. 104 are enrolled on the court rolls of the Honour of Knaresborough held at the National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU.)

Masham, North and West Ridings

Included Kirkby Malzeard, Hartwith with Winsley and Middlesmoor.

• Wills, administrations and inventories (arranged by Riding) with index 1572-1858
• Register of wills with index 1576-1699.

Middleham, North Riding

• Wills and administrations with index 1722-1854

For further details on wills please see Collections Guide 4: Wills and the Wills and probate glossary.