Wills of Steeple Residents
Transcribed and donated to the Dorset OPC Project by Kim Parker.
Until 1858 all wills had to be proved (formally approved) by church and other courts. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), the most important of these courts, dealt with the relatively wealthy individuals living mainly in the south of England and most of Wales (what was originally the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury). Wills of less wealthy individuals may have been proved in a number of other ecclesiastical courts, including the Archdeaconry Court of Dorset or PCC or the Royal Peculiar of Sarum. From 1858 all wills were indexed centrally and this index is widely available at Record Offices, Probate Registries and the LDS.
The first table below lists the wills proved in the PCC. These wills can be downloaded from the Documents online service of the National Archives for a small fee : http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/ The second table lists wills proved in other ecclesiastical courts.
| SURNAME | DESCRIPTION | DATE | CATALOGUE REF. | DEPT | SERIES | PIECE |
| ASHECOMBE | Will of John Ashecombe of Steeple, Dorset | 21 Oct 1598 | PROB 11/92 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Lewyn Quire Numbers: 58 - 103 |
| BOND | Will of John Bond, Gentleman of Steeple in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset | 24 May 1633 | PROB 11/163 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Russell Quire Numbers: 1 - 57 |
| BOND | Will of William Bond of Steeple, Dorset | 01 Jul 1637 | PROB 11/174 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Goare Quire Numbers: 59 - 118 |
| BOND | Will of Dennis Bond of Steeple, Dorset | 14 Sep 1658 | PROB 11/282 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Wootton Quire Numbers: 524 - 574 |
| CATTCUTT or CATTCUT | Will of John Cattcutt or Cattcut of Steeple, Dorset | 23 Aug 1765 | PROB 11/911 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Rushworth Quire Numbers: 287 - 332 |
| CLAVILL | Will of Roger Clavill of Steeple in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset | 09 Mar 1742 | PROB 11/716 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Trenley Quire Numbers: 49 - 91 |
| CLYFFE or CLYFF | Will of Robert Clyffe or Clyff of Steeple, Dorset | 12 Feb 1578 | PROB 11/60 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Langley |
| DACCOMBE | Will of John Daccombe of Steeple, Dorset | 01 Feb 1563 | PROB 11/46 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Chayre |
| DARKOMBE | Will of Roberte Darkombe of Steeple, Dorset | 16 Mar 1607 | PROB 11/109 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Huddleston Quire Numbers: 1 - 47 |
| FOWNES | Will of Richard Fownes of Steeple, Dorset | 17 Feb 1731 | PROB 11/642 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Isham Quire Numbers: 1 - 49 |
| FURBER | Will of James Furber of Steeple, Dorset | 26 Apr 1815 | PROB 11/1567 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Pakenham Quire Numbers: 170 - 216 |
| GARLAND | Will of John Garland, Gentleman of Steeple Isle of Purbeck, Dorset | 01 Feb 1819 | PROB 11/1613 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Ellenbro' Quire Numbers: 50 - 101 |
| JERRARDE | Will of John Jerrarde of Steeple, Dorset | 04 May 1592 | PROB 11/79 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Harrington Quire Numbers: 1 - 47 |
| LUCAS | Will of Thomas Lucas, Yeoman of Steeple in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset | 06 Jun 1811 | PROB 11/1523 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Crickett Quire Numbers: 268 - 315 |
| MILLEDGE | Will of Catharine Milledge, Wife of Steeple, Dorset | 12 Sep 1845 | PROB 11/2024 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Volume number: 15 Quire numbers: 701-750 |
| MOTHERELL | Will of John Motherell, Mercer of Steeple, Dorset | 04 Apr 1567 | PROB 11/49 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Stonard |
| REEDE | Will of Henry Reede of Steeple the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset | 01 Nov 1654 | PROB 11/241 | Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury | Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers | Name of Register: Alchin Quire Numbers: 410 - 462 |
TABLE 2: WILLS PROVED IN OTHER ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS
| NAME | REFERENCE | REGISTER | COURT |
| Barfoot John | West Creech in Steeple 46 1679 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Barefoot John | Creech in Steeple 14 1688 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Blanchard John | Grange in Steeple 18 1734 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Browne Susannah | Steeple 102 1684 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Brown John | Steeple 50 1707 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Brownrigg George | Steeple 51 1707 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792. |
| Clavill William | Steeple 50 1758 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Cobbet John | Steeple 1734 | Index to Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Consistory Court, Dorsetshire Division, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1681-1792 |
| Collins alias Smith Rebecca | Steeple 53 1686 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Cooper William, sen. | West Creech in Steeple 21 1780 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Covert John | Steeple A. 1752 | Index to Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Consistory Court, Dorsetshire Division, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1681-1792 |
| Davis | Steeple 51 1766 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| John | |||
| Ferry Robert | Steeple 60 1754 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Frost Roger | Steeple 1705 | Index to Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Consistory Court, Dorsetshire Division, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1681-1792 |
| Grey Francis | West Creech in Steeple 72 1687 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Hayward Joan | Steeple in Purbeck 66 1764 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| King | Steeple 76 1691 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| James | |||
| King | Steeple A. 1691 101 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills, Administrations, etc., in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | 3. Calendar of Inventories in the Archdeacon's Court at Blandford for the Years 1686 to 1790 |
| James | |||
| Marshfield Edward | Steeple 31 1757 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Osmond Edward | Steeple 50 1661 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Pearce Andrew | Steeple in Purbeck 31 1692 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Sampson Giles | Steeple 50 1778 | Part 2. Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1568-1792 |
| Samways Mary | West Creech in Steeple 24 1749 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Smith alias Collins Rebecca | Steeple 53 1686 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Symonds William | Steeple 11 1792 | Part 3. Calendar of Dorset Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Archdeaconry Court of Dorset of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1660-1792 |
| Voss Robert | Steeple 1726 | Index to Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Probate Registry at Blandford, Dorset. | Consistory Court, Dorsetshire Division, of the late Diocese of Bristol. 1681-1792 |