Searching York Medieval Probate Index (once logged in)
Search by
last name and/or first name
- The last name in this index is modernised when the original spelling is archaic.
- Names include testator and other persons referred to in records (NB Not all names in wills (including beneficiaries) have been indexed).

year range
- For the date of the will or that of probate

county
- Or country if not England or Wales
- County of the place given by the testator in the will.

Contents of the datasbase
  • Testator's Last Name
    Modernised version in cases where the original has archaic spellings
  • Old Last Name
    Spelling in original document. More than one spelling may appear,
    eg: "Ligearde, Lygeard" (for surname = "Legard")
  • First Name
  • Sex
    M(ale) or F(emale)
  • Occupation
    eg "Butcher", "Merchant". Sometimes relationship is shown, eg "Wife of Nicholas", "Son of John", "Widow of William, knight". Titles appear in this field, eg: "Knight, Lord Scrope of Bolton".
  • Place
    Usually contains place where the testator lived, often where they were buried, sometimes both, and sometimes with additional place-related information, eg: "York"; "York (buried Calais, St Mary, FR)"; "Sharlstone, probate act Warmfield (buried Nostell priory)". In a few cases the word "dated" appears against a place name, eg: "York, dated Danzig, PO". This means that the document appears to have been completed at that place, but not necessarily that this is the place where the testator lived.
  • Language
    Latin, French, English or a mixture. The vast majority are in Latin.
  • Date of will
    Usually, but not always present. The year is given as Old Style and New Style for dates before 25 March.
  • Date of probate
    The year is given as Old Style and New Style for dates before 25 March.
  • Document type
    Although the majority of the documents are wills, there are often other document types available. Glossary and abbreviations in the index.
  • Comment
    Not often present, but very variable contents, eg: "Place name unidentified"; "Daughter & heir of John de Luttryngton"; "Cancelled - will proved later"; "Adm[instration] granted because executors refused".
  • Reference code
    Identifies the volume at the Borthwick Institute containing the original document. This generally one of the Probate Register volumes, eg: "ProbReg 2".
  • Folio
    The folio (sheet) within the volume containing the original. For example: "61r" means the recto side of folio 61; "179v-180r" means the verso side of folio 179 continued on the recto of folio 180. Note that if you are ordering hard copies from the Borthwick Institute via the British Origins database, the reference data is forwarded automatically to the Institute.
NameX
NameX is a proprietary name-matching tool which allows you to find family records for names which have common variations in spelling or which may have been spelled incorrectly on some records.
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See also:  About York Medieval Probate Index
  Glossary of terms related to probate
  About The Borthwick Institute
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