Up to 1858 when a civil probate registration system was introduced, wills could be proved in any of a large number of ecclesiastical courts. The lowest level was that operated by the Archdeacon but wills could also be proved in the Bishop's Consistory Court or the Archbishop's Prerogative Court. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury sat at the head of this heirarchy of over 300 courts. In addition to the ecclesiastical courts, some areas fell within what was termed a "peculiar jurisdiction" and wills could be proved in the peculiar's own court.
The township of Marsden in Yorkshire had just such a peculiar jurisdiction and many wills relating to families with the surname Marsden were proved there. These are set out in the table below. The original documents are deposited at the Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, St. Anthony's Hall, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 2PW.
The abbreviations in the column headed "Docs" are:
|
Date Proved |
Name |
Residence |
Occupation |
Docs. |
|
Feb 1664/5 |
Edmund MARSDEN |
Marsden |
Ad, B |
|
|
Feb 1682/3 |
John MARSDEN |
Hilltop p. Almondbury |
Husbandman |
W, Inv |
|
Sep 1685 |
Luke MARSDEN |
Hilltop |
W, Inv, B |
|
|
Jan 1691/2 |
Elizabeth MARSDEN |
Booth, Marsden |
Widow |
W, Inv |
|
Jul 1699 |
John MARSDEN |
Hilltop p. Almondbury |
Clothier |
W, Inv |
|
Aug 1699 |
John MARSDEN |
Bankhouse |
W, Inv |
|
|
Aug 1693 |
Ann MARSDEN |
Black Lee p. Hudd. |
W, Inv |
|
|
Jan 1702/3 |
Luke MARSDEN |
Black Lee |
Husbandman |
W, Inv |
|
May 1703 |
Ann MARSDEN |
Pule |
Spinster |
W |
|
Mar 1726 |
James MARSDEN |
Booth |
Husbandman |
W, Inv |
|
May 1734 |
William MARSDEN |
Owlers |
B |
|
|
May 1735 |
Luke MARSDEN |
Booth |
Ad |
|
|
May 1740 |
Roger MARSDEN |
Hilltop |
Yeoman |
W, Inv, B |
|
Apr 1745 |
John MARSDEN |
Troxs, Marsden, p. Hudd. |
Yeoman |
W, Inv, B |
|
May 1747 |
Luke MARSDEN |
Wellsike |
Yeoman |
W, Inv |
|
Apr 1749 |
Isaac MARSDEN |
Trocks |
Yeoman |
W |
|
Sep 1757 |
John MARSDEN |
Booth |
Clothier |
Ad, Inv |
|
May 1760 |
John MARSDEN |
Booth |
Clothier |
W, Inv, B |
|
Apr 1767 |
Luke MARSDEN |
Wellsike |
Gent |
W, B |
|
Apr 1770 |
John MARSDEN |
Blake Lee |
Clothier |
W, B |
|
Oct 1778 |
James MARSDEN |
Holme House, Marsden |
Clothier |
W |
|
Apr 1779 |
John MARSDEN |
Wellsyke |
Clerk |
W, B |
|
Jul 1821 |
James MARSDEN |
Hilltop p. Almondbury |
Clothdresser |
W |
|
Mar 1841 |
Joseph MARSDEN |
Hilltop |
Clothier |
W, Inv |
|
Dec 1854 |
Luke MARSDEN |
Binn p. Almondbury |
Woolsorter |
W, Inv |
Updated 7 September 1999