Sub-series
Probate Inventories
Catalogue reference: AH18
What’s it about?
This record is about the Probate Inventories dating from 1590-1858.
Is it available online?
Maybe, but not on The National Archives website. This record is held at Huntingdonshire Archives.
Can I see it in person?
Not at The National Archives, but you may be able to view it in person at Huntingdonshire Archives.
Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
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AH18
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Title (The name of the record)
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Probate Inventories
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Date (When the record was created)
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1590-1858
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Description (What the record is about)
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Probate inventories consist of a list of "goods, chattels and credits" belonging to the deceased which were attached to the will. They were made, or "appraised", by neighbours of the deceased who were considered to be of suitable standing. In practice, however, some of the "appraisers" seem to have been barely literate and many inventories are not very reliable. In most cases they can only be used to give a vague idea as to the movable property of the testator.
Before 1858 wills, inventories and administration bonds had to be proved at an ecclesiastical court. For the vast majority of people living in Huntingdonshire this would have meant the Archdeaconry Court. Individuals with property outside the Archdeaconry would have had their wills proved at either the Consistory Court of Lincoln (from 1837 the Consistory Court of Ely) or, above that, the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Probate for parishioners within the Peculiars or Prebends of the Archdeaconry would have been proved at Peculiar or Prebendal courts.
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Arrangement (Information about the filing sequence or logical order of the record)
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The inventories are kept in alphabetical and chronological order
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- Huntingdonshire Archives
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Language (The language of the record)
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English
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Physical description (The amount and form of the record)
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5027 items
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Immediate source of acquisition (When and where the record was acquired from)
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These records were deposited by the Peterborough District Probate Registry in 1957 as accessions number 185 and 186 along with the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon wills.
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Custodial history (Describes where and how the record has been held from creation to transfer to The National Archives)
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They have been separated from the will at some point prior to deposit at the Record Office.
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Unpublished finding aids (A note of unpublished indexes, lists or guides to the record)
- <span class="wrapper"><p>The second volume of an index by the British Records Society is the in the process of being compiled. The first volume contains an index of the Archdeaconry probate records (copied and original wills, inventories and administration bonds) for 1479-1652.</p> <p>The volume is available at the Record Office as W.M. Noble, Calendars of Hunts Wills (London, British Record Society 1911).</p></span>
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/d3267f77-346d-4a5c-b7de-5898c1a2e3a2/
Series information
AH15-21
PROBATE RECORDS
See the series level description for more information about this record.
Catalogue hierarchy
This record is held at Huntingdonshire Archives
Within the fonds: AH
Archdeaconry of Huntingdon
Within the series: AH15-21
PROBATE RECORDS
You are currently looking at the sub-series: AH18
Probate Inventories