Before 1858, in England, Wales and Ireland the probate of wills and granting of letters of administration (admons.) were matters for the church courts. The making of wills was not usual before the mid-16th century. Wills were normally made by the testator when on his deathbed or perhaps before taking a dangerous journey. It was relatively uncommon to make wills among the population in general, certainly less than ten per cent of the population. But the question of inheritance was often settled long before death. Letters of administration were obtained in the absence of a will.

In England, wills before 1858 were normally proved in the archdeaconry in which the testator died. If however, his possessions fell across two deaconries, or two bishoprics, or two archbishoprics then the will would be taken to the relevant consistory, diocese or prerogative court of the archbishop respectively. The highest church courts were the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) for England and Wales and the Prerogative Court of York for the northern English provinces. But in practice the exception was almost as common as the rule. The wealthier the testator, the more likely their executor would take the will to the highest courts where records were better maintained and where the possibility of disputes was minimised.

There were also 'peculiar' jurisdictions of parishes and groups of parishes which were exempt from the archdeacon's and frequently the bishop's authority.

For Wills and Letters of Administration proven in England and Wales since 1858, see the National Probate Calendars.

The following index has links to the fully transcribed will.

Acts and Administrations PCC 1581-1595 (BRS)

STARRE, John, St Giles-in-the Fields, Mdx, 1587 (Folio 19)
STARRE, Robert, Culliton, Devon, 1588 (Folio 60)
STIRREY, Arthur, Hawkherst, Kent, 1587 (Folio 26)

Acts and Administrations PCC 1596-1608 (BRS Vol IV)

STARRE, Hugh, Brampton Bryan, Herefs to Eleanor S, rel, 1599, p 14; ren; (w. 1599, 91, Kidd)

Acts and Administrations PCC 1609-1619 (BRS Vol V)

No STERRYs or variants

Acts and Administrations PCC 1620-1630

No STERRYs or variants

Acts and Administrations PCC 1631-1648 (BRS vol VI)

STIRRY, Jas, Fremington, Devon to Joan S, rel. 24 Mch, 1637, p 60

Acts and Administrations PCC 1649-1654 (BRS)

STARE, Thomas, bach, died beyond seas 1649 (Folio 44)
STARRE, Henry, Childe Okeford, Soms, 1652 (Folio 35)
STARRE als GATFORD, Jane, Staninge, Sussex, 1652 (Folio 159)
STARRE, Peter, St Mary Matfellon (Whitechapel, Mdx), died beyond seas. 1650 Folio 152 & 126

Probate Acts 1650-51(Abstracts)

STERREY, John, of Leinthall Starkes, Herefs, bachelor, Feb 8, 1647-8 Will [57 Pembroke] pr. Ap 29 by John WRITE

Acts and Administrations PCC 1655-1660 (BRS)

STARY, Thomas, Danbury, Essex (Folio 50)

Administrations PCC 1853-1857

Nil

PCC Wills 1383-1558

Nil

PCC Wills 1558-1583 (BRS Vol III)

1578 STERRY, Thomas, citizen and goldsmith of London; Paules Churchyard, St Peters in Chepe (43 Langley)

PCC Wills 1584-1619 (BRS)

No STERRYs

PCC Wills 1620-1629 (BRS)

1628 STARRE, Anne, Beer, Seaton, Devon (54 Barrington)
1622 STARRE, Joseph the elder, mercer, Yeovil, Somerset (100 Savile)

PCC Wills 1630-1660

1650 STERREY, John, of Leinthall Starkes, Herefs. bach. Feb 8 1647/8 Will (57 Pembroke) pr. Ap 28 by John White
1653 STERRY, Thomas, of Faversham, Kent Dec 10 1652 (land in March Cambs and also in Ruardean Glos. Will 116 Brent. Proved 2 June 1653 by relict Anne

PCC Wills 1661-1670

Nil

PCC Wills 1671-1675 (BRS Vol IX)

Nil

PCC Wills 1675-1685

Elizabeth Storrey, wid, lymehouse [Stepney], Mdx 1680/135
Frances STERREY, widow, of London dated 19 April 1681 with codicils. Proved July 1682 [died St Mary Islington, Mdx]
Joseph Lee Sterry, dyer, Lond [city of, d. St Mary Islington, Mdx] 1682/90 [PROB 11 370 Folio 285]
Ann Sterry Admon. Feb 1684
William Sterry, mariner, Bristoll [d. Boston, New England] 1685/125 [PROB 11 381 Folio 135]

PCC Wills 1686-1693 (BRS Vol XI)

STERRY, George, snr, Naylor, St Saviour, Southwark, Surrey, 1686 (Folio 50)
STERRY, John, shipwright, St Mary Overs, Surrey; H.M.S. "Coronations" (St Saviour) 1691 (Folio 176)

PCC Wills 1694-1700 (BRS Vol XII)

STARRE, Edmond, esq, Newcourt, Devon, 1700 (Folio 184)
STARE, John, bach, All-Hallows-by-the-Wall, Lond., 1697 (Folio 168)
STARE, Thomas, Overton, Hants, 1698 (Folio 149)

PCC Wills & Administration Acts 1701-1749

STERE, Mary, 1740 Mar, London, W(=Will) [PROB 11/701, sig(=quire number)  90]
STERE, Richard, 1719 May, Surrey, W [PROB 11/568, sig 91]
STERRY, Elizabeth, 1704 Feb, Surrey, W [PROB 11/475, sig 49]
STERRY, Peter, 1704 Feb, London, W [PROB 11/475 sig 50]
STERRY, Samuel, 1705 Dec, Surrey, W [PROB 11/485 sig 255]
STERRY, Benjamin, 1708 Nov, Surrey, W [PROB 11/505 sig 272]
STERRY, Ann, 1718 Nov, Surrey, W [PROB 11/566, sig 226]
STERRY, William, 1720 Sep, Surrey, W [PROB 11/576 sig 202]
STERRY, Abraham, 1720 Nov, Pts (=died in counties overseas or at sea), A (=Administration) [PROB 6/96]
STERRY, Peter, 1724 Oct, Middlesex
STERRY, Dorothy, 1731 Dec, Middlesex, W [PROB 11/648, sig 314]
STERRY, John, 1735 Feb, Surrey, W [PROB 11/669, sig 38]
STERRY, George, 1736 Mar, Surrey, W [PROB 11/676, sig 67]
STERRY, Elizabeth, 1740 Apr, Surrey, A [PROB 6/116]
STERRY, Joseph, 1742 Oct, London, W [PROB 11/721, sig 307]
STERRY, Henry, 1744 Jan, London, W [PROB 11/731, sig 22]
STERY, Philip, 1724 Jun, London, W [PROB 11/598, sig 151] The surname is STORY not STERY.

Note: PROB 11 are copies.  The original are PROB 10.

PCC Wills 1750 - 1800

PCC Wills 1801-1819

STERRY, George, Wool Stapler, Saint Nicholas, Worcester, 16 Jun 1807 (PROB 11/1463)
STERRY, Mary, Widow of Hertford, Hertfordshire, 23 Jun 1809 (PROB 11/1499)
STERRY, Benjamin, Southwark, Surrey, 13 Sep 1811 (PROB 11/1526)
STERRY, Mary, Widow, South Street, Finsbury, Middlesex, 18 Dec 1816 (PROB 11/1587)
STERRY, Thomas Johnson, Gentleman of Saint Mary Newington, Surrey, 19 Sep 1817 (PROB 11/1596)
STERRY, Robert, Merchant of Lowestoft, Sufolk, 16 Oct 1818 (PROB 11/1609)

PCC Wills 1820-1829

STERRY, Anthony of Newington Butts, Surrey, 12 May 1826 (PROB 11/1712)
STERRY, Martha, Spinster of High Street, Worcester, Worcestershire, 6 Feb 1828 (PROB 11/1737)

PCC Wills 1830-1839

STERRY, Benjamin Wasey, Romford Essex, 2 Dec 1830 (PROB 11/1779)
STERRY, Charles, Waterman, Westbury upon Severn, Gloucestershire, 18 Nov 1831 (PROB 11/1792)
MARKS, Sterry, Gentleman, Saint Paul Shadwell, Middlesex, 4 Nov 1833 (PROB 11/1824)
STERRY, Henry, Merchant of Basinghall Street, City of London, 2 Jun 1835 (PROB 11/1848)

PCC Wills 1840-1858

STERRY, Wasey, Romford and Upminster, Essex, 8 Sep 1842 (PROB 11/1968)
STERRY, Hester, Widow, Fonthill Place, Surrey, 27 December, 1847 (PROB 11/2066)
STERRY, Robert, Master Mariner, Bermondsey Surrey, 26 Oct 1849 (PROB 11/2102)
STERRY, Thomas, Mariner, Westbury on Severn, Gloucestershire, 10 Sep 1850 (PROB 11/2120)
STERRY, Mary, Croydon, Surrey, 2 July 1853 (PROB 11/2176, Folio 565)
STERRY, Frances, Widow, Southampton & Upminster Essex, 14 Oct 1856 (PROB 11/2240, Folio 792)
STERRY, George, Worcester, 25 Oct 1856 (PROB 11/2240, Folio 795)
STERRY, Samuel Henry, Gentleman, Bermondsey, Surrey, 1 January 1857 (PROB 11/2245, Folio 63)
STERRY, Joseph, Gentleman, Hertford, 9 June 1857 (PROB 11/2253, Folio 499)