The Isle of Wight Record Office keeps microfiche copies of some of the wills proved in the Diocese of Winchester relating to people residing in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. These microfiche do not include Letters of Administration, which were granted when a person died intestate (without leaving a will). The covering dates for these microfiche copies are:

Diocese of Winchester: Archdeacon's Court

1587 –1653, 1660 –1857

Diocese of Winchester: Bishop’s/Consistory Court

1600 –1635, 1660 –1741

A microfiche index (1571 - 1858) is also available in our searchroom. This is arranged by personal name, place name and occupation.

The original wills are held by the Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester and can be referenced via their online catalogue: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/archives/catalog.htm or by personal visit.

In addition, copies of wills for various dates can be found among family, estate and solicitors papers deposited in the I.W. Record Office. These wills can be located by searching either the Personal Names Index or Place Index in the Search Room.

The main series are as follows:

Eldridge Probates

ELD/87/38/PROB/1-192

Jerome Probates

JER/PROB/1-108

JER/PROB/084

Probate of the will of Robert Rice deceased
4 January 1866

The Court of Probate Act of 25th August 1857 came into force on 11th January 1858 this established a civil Principal Probate Registry and 40 probate districts. Isle of Wight wills from 1858 were proved at Winchester. The Principal Probate Register can be consulted at First Avenue House (Probate Search Room) 42-49 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NP click here to visit their web site. Copies of calendars to this Register are also held in some libraries and archives nation-wide. Winchester Record Office holds wills proved at Winchester Probate Registry (which covers the Isle of Wight) from 1858-1940, and National Probate calendars from 1858-1952.

For further information on wills after 1858 click here

For Probate Office contact details click here

Before 1858 all wills had to be proved by the church and other courts of which the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) was the most important with jurisdiction over the south of England and Wales. Wills and administrations of men and women of substance (and sometimes those of lesser means) are often to be found in the PCC the records of which are held by the National Archives. For further information and to access these wills on line click here