Index of Wills and Decrees
1600 - 1920
(Many of the transcribed wills also reside on the Isle of Man Family History Society site.)
This project is largely the work of the late Brian Lawson. The transcriptions themselves have been made by a small army of individuals. Additions are welcomed to either address given on the opening page. The information is presented in good faith and may contain the transcribers own interpretation of relationships. It would be good practice to cross check (preferably with the LDS film) as sometimes the information may have been mis-interpreted.
The indexes have been prepared from the official indices in the Archdeacon's (LDS film 0106195) and Episcopal (LDS film 0106366) Registries. Around 54,900 Wills, Decrees and Agreements have been indexed.The separate Registries were combined into a single Civil Registry from 1885 onwards. The index to this Registry up to and including the year 1949 is available on LDS film 0106366 - the last part of the film recording the Episcopal Registry Index.
The LDS have copied all Wills and Decrees that were in the Rolls Office up to and including the year 1916. Although this index contains Wills and Decrees no LDS film number can be given for these Wills and Decrees. They are included only for the sake of completeness as 1920 marks the end of an Index Book. There are no plans to add later Wills othere than those submitted voluntarily.
Some entries have been modified as information becomes available from Will transcriptions, e.g. maiden or alias names have been added.
Original spelling has been maintained but obvious variations have been grouped, e.g. Cane, Cain, Caine, Cayne have all been grouped under Cain. Some major variations, e.g. Carran/Karran, have been grouped. In these instances I have placed a cross-reference in the appropriate pages.
In the same way forenames such as Eleanor, Elin and all the variations have been grouped under Eleanor. Kate/Katharine will be found under Catherine and Bessie/Eliza under Elizabeth.
Historically female rights have always been much stronger on the Island than in the rest of British Isles. Prior to about 1700 most female Wills and Decrees were written and filed using the maiden name. As English legal practice became more established the more familiar form of using the married name followed by the maiden name became the norm.
A Will or Decree is listed in this index using the name as it appears in the document using the abbreviation "als" to indicate the maiden name where it is given in the document. Early Wills and Decrees are listed under the maiden name. A second entry appears under the married name when it is clear from the document itself. In this case the word "nee" is used in the title.
A Transcription retains all original spelling and is presented line by line (i.e. fully paginated). All missing words are indicated by "...." while doubtful or interpolated wording is indicated by [square brackets]. A Translation will often have the spelling modernized, abbreviations expanded and the line breaks are not usually indicated. The translator may not give a clear indication of interpolated or assumed wording. Translations are often characterised by significantly longer lines of text.
Last updated 3 January 2023.