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If Note that if you want to obtain are searching for a copy person who lived outside of a Calcutta and the other capitals, up-country, in the Mofussil, they will that you have probably be found a reference for in FIBIS’s transcriptionsthe records of the District Courts, not the Supreme Courts. The record series is '''IOR/L/AG/34/31'''. The District Court records start from 1865. The only information available in relation to wills proved in District Courts are the summaries of grants made which are contained in the District Court Calendars of Probate. Unlike wills proved in the Supreme Courts at Calcutta, you will need Madras and Bombay, copies of the actual wills were not sent to visit or contact the India Office in London. These records do NOT appear to have been digitised by FindMy Past, but are available on [[British LibraryFamilySearch]]digitised microfilm, or order a LDS film (refer below. At this point (December 2009) or LDS photocpyit appears most likely that the Indian Courts, details rather than [[Family History Centres|here]]Regional State Archives in India would be most likely to hold the probated wills, if copies still exist. Details of This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2010-03/1267970970 post dated 3/2010] is both these sources may be found in respect of obtaining a copy of a will from the [[British LibraryIndian Libraries and Archives]].
==Records==The [[British Library]] webpage For the period from 1858, [http://wwwsearch.blancestry.co.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/willsandadministrationssearch/willsadmindb.html aspx?dbid=1904 England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and AdministrationAdministrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995] lists sources is available through Ancestry.co.uk. Note there are a few gaps in the records. [[India Office Findmypast]] also has two related datasets of these Index records called "Probate Calendars Of England & Wales 1858-1959" and "Probate Calendars Of England & Wales 1858-1959 - Browse", located under Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records/ Wills & probate.<br>If you wish to order a copy of a will or grant mentioned in this collection, you can do so for a fee, online from [https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#calendar Find a will: GOV.UK]], where you can search for the will or probate of any person in the UK who died between 1858 and 1996, and then order a copy online. Currently (March 2016) the website is a “Beta” (not finalized) version, and the Search appears inadequate. It is recommended that you find details from findmypast or Ancestry, then use the details to locate the record on GOV.UK, from where you can complete the details for an online request for the will.
The records include [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60#1-60 WillsKeep in mind that men who retired in India, probatesand their families, administrations and inventories of estates of persons who died could remain in India , or return to the UK (England, Scotland Wales, and Burma '''IOR/L/AG/34/29'''] Ireland), or relocate to, and eventually die, anywhere in the world, including Australia, New Zealand etc. Areas close to the UK which were popular with retirees include*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60-2#1-60-2 Bengal wills '''IOR/L/AG/34/29/4-184'''[French|France]]*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60-3#1-60-3 Madras wills and administrations '''IOR/L/AG/34/29/185-340''']*[http://www.nationalarchivesthe Channel Islands including Jersey.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-60-4#1-60-4 Bombay wills and administrations '''IOR/L/AG/34/29/341-380''']
Note that if you are searching for a person who lived outside of Calcutta and the other capitals, up-country, in the Mofussil, they will probably be found in the records of the District Courts, not the Supreme Courts. The District Court records start from 1865, as explained in this [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-iorlag_4&cid=1-65Also see==*[[British Army#1Soldiers’ wills|British Army -65 summary of L/AG/34 contents]. This Rootsweb India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2009-10/1256029313 thread] advises that the only information available in relation to Soldiers’ wills proved in District Courts are the summaries of grants made which are contained in the District Court Calendars of Probate. Unlike wills proved in the Supreme Courts at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay, copies of the actual wills were not sent to the India Office in London. At this point (December 2009) it appears most likely that the Indian Courts, rather than Regional State Archives in India would be most likely to hold the probated wills, if copies still exist. Details of both these sources may be found in [[Indian Libraries and Archives]].
Some wills proved in England relate to persons with ==External links to ==*[http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast] Pay website.*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bkeywords%3AProbate%20%2Bkeywords%3AIndia&page=1&availability=Online Digitised FamilySearch microfilms - a list obtained by a keyword search (probate India)] of filmed India or, indeed, Office records in the [[LDS]] (Mormon) FamilySearch catalogue. those who have actually died Also see [[FamilySearch Centres]].**Note in particular [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/159352 Calendars of probate, 1865-1936] India. Maybe property was held at home District Courts*[https://web.archive.org/web/20210120164645/http://www.sog.org.uk/learn/help-getting-started-with-genealogy/guide-five/ Society of Genealogists: Guide Four: Probate Records] Edited and abroad updated by Else Churchill andGeoff Swinfield, thereforelatest update 2020, the will was proved in both placesnow archived:[https://web.archive.org/web/20200715051014/http://www.sog.org.uk/uploads/Gillian_Stevens_and_Chad_Hanna_-Wills_and_Where_to_Find_Them. pdf Wills and Where this happened before 1858 a will held to find them in the British Library England and Wales] by Gillian Stevens and Chad Hanna sog.org.uk. now archived, [https://web.archive.org/web/20210225135221/http://www.sog.org.uk/learn/who-do-you-think-you-are-2013-speakers-handouts/ from upload] 2013, now archived. '''Note''': some information may also be mirrored in the Documents Online section of the National Archives website – from where it can be downloaded at nominal costhave changed, see 2020 link, but some information is still valid. *[http://www.nationalarchivesscotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=554&407 Wills & Testaments] ScotlandsPeople scotlandspeople.gov.uk. Free to search, pay to view. Scottish wills.*[http:/documentsonline/willsdeathdutieswww.willcalendars.nationalarchives.asp ie/search/cwa/home.jsp Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1858 – 1920] National Archivesof Ireland. Irish wills. Free records.*[http://catalogue.jerseyheritage.org Jersey Heritage: Archives & Collections Online]Includes wills for persons with connections to India, as Jersey was popular with retirees from India. Download of an image requires either an annual subscription, or pay per view.
[http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1904 England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941] is now available through Ancestry.co.uk. Note there are a few gaps inrecords. If you wish to order a copy of a will or grant mentioned in this collection, you can do so for a fee from the Principal Probate Registry or any district probate registry, or you can make a request by mail. Read how to do this in the [http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms=References==<references/1176.htm Guide to obtaining probate records from 1858 in England and Wales] by Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS) part of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).>
This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2011-01/1295666073 post] advises that contemporary newspapers are a good source of information, and mentions ''The Times'' (London}
Wills may be a means of tracing family links through the beneficaries named. This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2009-12/1261146747 post] says “I have a will from Bengal dated 1813 in which an ancestor of mine named his brother-in-law as a beneficiary. That is the only clue I have to his wife's identity”.
==External Links==
*[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&keyword=+Probate+India&prekeyword=+Probate+India Microfilms in the Family History Library] - a list obtained by a keyword search ('probate, India') of filmed India Office records in the [[LDS]] (Mormon) Family History Library Catalogue.
→External Links
==FIBIS resources==
*[http://fibis.ourarchives.online/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=153&s_id=139 Bengal Wills in the India Office Records] 1780 to 1866 Complete, 1867-1909 surnames beginning ‘A’ only.
*[http://fibis.ourarchives.online/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=158&s_id=139 Officers Wills in the India Office Records] an index and extract from the IOR series L/AG/34/30/30. The wills of only 37 officers are included. They cover all three presidencies over the years 1831 to 1875
*[http://fibis.ourarchives.online/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=13&s_id=30 Administration Act Books] Administrations relating to India 1764 to 1857
*[http://fibis.ourarchives.online/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=14&s_id=30 Limited Administration Act Books] relating to India 1830 to 1839
*Sylvia Murphy, "Some Sources of Probate and Estate Records for India," ''FIBIS Journal'', No 8 (Autumn 2002). For details of how to access this article online, see [[FIBIS Journals]].
===Obtaining a copy of a will===
To obtain a copy of a will indexed in the above FIBIS resources you have the following options:
* Copies of British India Office Wills & Probate 1774-1948 are available from [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 Findmypast] (pay website)
* Contact the [[British Library]]. A charge applies for a copy of a record, unless you visit personally.
* View a digitised FamilySearch microfilm (refer below). Free source if viewed at [[Family History Centres]]. Currently (2020/11) also available at Family Search Affiliate Libraries, '''some''' of which may charge visitor fees for non members. However, for many people Findmypast may be geographically more convenient.
* [http://www.fibis.org/membership.htm FIBIS members] can also take advantage of the FIBIS research service to obtain a photocopy of a microfilmed will from the [[British Library]] (and, indeed, details from other records ) where a reference has been found on the website. A search can also be made for wills, probates and inventories which may not yet be listed online. Members should contact the research co-ordinator - [mailto:research@fibis.org research@fibis.org] - for details of this service.
==Records==
The [[British Library]] webpage [https://web.archive.org/web/20180825042415/http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecordsfamilyhistory/willsandadministrations/willsadmin.html Wills and Administration] (now archived) lists sources in the [[India Office Records]].
The following information is available on the FIBIS Search database.*[http:records include Wills, probates, administrations and inventories of estates of persons who died in India and Burma '''IOR/L/www.search.fibis.orgAG/frontis/bin34/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=153&s_id=139 Bengal Wills in the India Office Records] 1780 to 1866 Complete, 29''' 1867-1909 surnames beginning ‘A’ only. which include*[http:Bengal wills '''IOR/L/www.search.fibis.orgAG/frontis34/bin29/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=158&s_id=139 Officers Wills in the India Office Records] an index 4-184''' Calcutta Supreme/High Court* Madras wills and extract from the administrations '''IOR series /L/AG/34/3029/185-340''' Madras Supreme/30. The wills of only 37 officers are included. They cover all three presidencies over the years 1831 to 1875High Court*[http:Bombay wills and administrations '''IOR/L/www.search.fibis.orgAG/frontis34/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=13&s_id=30 Administration Act Books] Administrations relating to India 1764 to 1857*[http:29/341-380''' Bombay Supreme/www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=browse_components&id=14&s_id=30 Limited Administration Act Books] relating to India 1830 to 1839High Court
These records, with images, are available for download on the [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id==Obtaining a copy of a will===201071 findmypast] website.
Some wills proved in England relate to persons with links to India or, indeed, those who have actually died in India. Maybe property was held at home and abroad and, therefore, the will was proved in both places. Where this happened before 1858, read the National Archives guide [http://www.fibisnationalarchives.orggov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/membershipwills-or-administrations-before-1858/ Wills or administrations before 1858].htm FIBIS members] can also take advantage of the FIBIS research service to obtain a photocopy of a microfilmed will from the Both Ancestry and [[British Libraryfindmypast]] (andcontain databases relating to wills prior to 1858. In Ancestry the databases are located in the collection Wills, Probates, Land, indeedTax & Criminal, details from other records ) where a reference has been found on while in findmypast the websitedatabases are located in Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records/Wills & probate. A search can also be made for willsNote that the Ancestry images, which are done in grey-scales are considered much clearer to read than the National Archives images, probates which are available only in black and inventories which may not yet be listed white.<ref> Link no longer accessible. AdrianB38. "Need help in deciphering handwriting on the sitewill" ''Who Do You Think You Are? Forum'' February 07, 2017. Members should contact the research co-ordinator - [mailto<nowiki>http:research@fibis//www.org research@fibiswhodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.org] - for details of this servicecom/forum/topic14597.html#p51110</nowiki></ref>
[[Category:Records]]
[[Category:Research methods]]
