Chapter 14: Dioceses and peculiar jurisdictions

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However, Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, which had its own jurisdiction over the probate of wills until 1829. The Peculiar included the Precincts of the Abbey and St Margaret, Westminster (including St St John the Evangelist from 1728), part of St Martin-in-the-Fields until the late 17th century and Paddington until c1669. The Peculiar also had jurisdiction over areas outside the City of Westminster which had formerly been lands of Westminster Abbey. These included St Martin-le-Grand, part of St Anne and St Agnes within Aldersgate until c1670, and part of St Leonard Foster Lane until c1665. The Peculiar also had jurisdiction over the Essex parishes of Newport, Creshall and Good Easter until 1540 and St Mary Maldon until 1829. Additional records are held at Westminster Abbey Muniment Room. Probate records for other church courts which included Westminster are held at the National Archives, the London Metropolitan Archives and the Guildhall Library.

Diocese of Westminster

Consistory court register of responsa personalia and depositions, 1541-1548;

Also microfilm copy of bishops' register, 1540-1559, including Bishop of Westminster, 1541-1549 (original at Guildhall Library) Acc 736

Peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster (formerly the Abbot of Westminster before 1540)

Commissary court will registers, filed wills and act books, 1504-1829 (not complete coverage; mostly indexed)

Acts re marriage licences etc, 1558-1678

Presentments in correction cases from Maldon, 1622-1632

Cash book, 1784-1797

Fee book for probate, marriage licences etc, 1772-1804

Administrations, 1718-1751

Administration bonds, 1695-1696

Administrators' accounts, 1607-1638

Renunciations, 1707-1743

Letters of request, 1718-1777

Returned letters of request 1748-1763

Legal suits, 1706-1742

Intestacy papers, 1740-1748

Curation papers, 1718-1743

Inventories, 1661-1742

Acc 120, Acc 1144, Acc 1284, Acc 1945, Acc 2206

Paddington estate of the Bishop of London

See Chapter 8, Chapter 23 and Chapter 24

 Munimenta Antiqua

Transcriptions of special marriage licences issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1766-1891 (indexed in deeds index) Acc 142

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