England, Cheshire, Probate Records, 1492-1940

What is in This Collection?

This collection contains an index to probate records of many types from the county of Cheshire for the years 1492-1940. Original records are held at the Cheshire Archives. Probate records are a good source for determining family relationships, and the other information they provide can provide clues to other records which might be found. These records also have relatively good coverage. Even though only about ten percent of the population ever left a will, it is estimated that approximately a quarter of the population was mentioned in wills.

• Probate records document the transfer of possessions after death; this process requires several types of record to be kept.
• Wills ensure that the property and personal estate of a deceased are distributed according to their wishes.
• Act books are brief paragraphs telling that the executor has appeared in court and is approved to distribute the goods as set forth in the will.
• Administrations are documents created when a person died without leaving a will.

Those who had land or money and who were heads of their household created wills. After 1837, anyone over the age of 21 could leave a will; before this, men as young as 14 and women as young as 12 could leave a will. Non-widowed married women rarely left wills, as they were not allowed to own property until 1882.

For more information on the history and significance of probate records, see England Probate Records.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

This collection is an index only. Information extracted is limited. Actual images of the records may contain:

Collection Content

Sample Record