Beeston Wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (1384-1858)

Up until 12 January 1858 all wills had to be proved at the appropriate level of Church court. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury was the highest level within that system and had to be used where property was situated in more than one Diocese in the the Province of Canterbury (Wales and the south of England) or in both Diocese. It was also used where a property-owner in England or Wales died overseas. Higher courts than that prescribed, including Canterbury, were sometimes used for reasons other than legal requirement, such as for status or relative privacy, More information on this relatively complex stucture, involving several levels of jurisdiction, may be found on the National Archives site.

Up until 1837, Nottinghamshire was in the Province of York, All the surviving original probate records proved in that Exchequer court during that period have been transferred to Nottinghamshire Archives. (With registered copies remaining at the Borthwick Institute in York). From 1837, Nottinghamshire was part of the Province of Canterbury. Nottinghamshire wills proved at lower levals (i.e. the majority) are also usually found at Notts Archives.

All surviving wills proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury are searceable at and copies may be purchased from the National Archives site. The table below includes all wills included there, where the testator is described as being of Beeston, Nottinghamshire.

From 12 January 1858, responsibily for the grant of probate in England & Wales (and Administrations, usually where there is no will) was transferred to the Civil courts, through a network of Probate Registries. Brief details of the grants are listed in yearly 'calendars'. Almost of all of these, up to 1941, are available on line as part of ancestry.com and and an even wider date range is covered by printed volumes at Notts Archives and elsewhere.

Name			Probate Date
Surname	Forename	Description	Day	Month	Year	Catalogue Ref	Notes
ATTENBOROUGH	Mary	Widow of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	22	Dec	1840	PROB 11/1937	.
CLEMMONS	Martha	Widow of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	10	Apr	1810	PROB 11/1510	.
CLEWES	Charles	Gentleman of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	13	Jun	1823	PROB 11/1671	.
COX	Mary	Widow of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	29	Jun	1849	PROB 11/2094	.
FELLOWS	Catherine Frances	Wife of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	21	Feb	1827	PROB 11/1721	.
HARWOOD	Richard	Farmer of Beeston Meadow, Nottinghamshire	28	Apr	1826	PROB 11/1711	.
KIRKLAND	Henry	Lace Manufacturer of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	8	Mar	1854	PROB 11/2188	.
LACEY	Thomas	Bachelor of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	25	May	1659	PROB 11/291	.
LEVIS	Mary	Spinster of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	23	Dec	1768	PROB 11/944	.
MICKLETHWAIT	Nathaniel	of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	31	Dec	1757	PROB 11/834	.
NIXON	James	Gentleman of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	16	Dec	1851	PROB 11/2143	.
ORTON	Anne	Spinster of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	11	Mar	1850	PROB 11/2110	.
PHIPPS	John	Yeoman of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	21	Aug	1655	PROB 11/244	.
SEAWELL	Branstone	Gentleman of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	12	Apr	1787	PROB 11/1152	.
STONE	John	Yeoman of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	20	Apr	1602	PROB 11/99	.
STREY	Dorothy	Spinster of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	14	May	1803	PROB 11/1393	.
TOWLE	Samuel	Commission Agent of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	29	Nov	1831	PROB 11/1792	.
WILDBORE	Robert, Rev	Clerk of Beeston, Nottinghamshire	3	Apr	1856	PROB 11/2231	.

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