The year 1858 was indeed an epoch-making year in this respect, for not only was the enactment carried into force that future wills should be deposited in Somerset House, but the old Diocesan Courts, where (as has been previously stated) country wills were mainly kept, were superseded by the District Registries. There nearly all the wills formerly in the old Diocesan Courts are now preserved. The following are the names of these, and practically all wills not deposited in Somerset House, in Edinburgh, or in Dublin should be procurable in one or other of these Registries:-- Blandford, Bangor, Bristol, Bury St. Edmunds, Canterbury, Carlisle, Carmarthen, Chester, Chichester, Derby, Durham, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Ipswich, Lancaster, Lewes, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, Llandaff, Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, St. Asaph’s, Salisbury, Taunton, Wakefield, Wells, Winchester, Worcester, York. The last-named District Registry, that of York, is not exclusively confined to wills of those who lived in the district; the others almost universally are. Each Registry, as a rule, comprises several of the suppressed Diocesan and Minor Courts. They all date from early times, the latest being those of Winchester and Wells, which contain no wills before 1660, and the earliest that of Bury St. Edmunds, where the wills date from 1354. When noting the contents of a will, the pedigree-hunter should put down all particulars, even what at first sight might appear trivial, as small items sometimes lead to great discoveries. The names of the witnesses to a will, for instance, should never be omitted. Of course, it is not necessary to copy a document in full, but its contents should be noted somewhat in this way-- Will of John Browne, of. Proved in. (Give names of Court and date.) _Legatees._--(Here note names of all legatees, their addresses, if given, and _especially_ note particulars of any relationships mentioned, all details of property devised, also any other points of importance, if such occur in the will.) _Signed._--(Signature and date to be given here.) _Witnesses._--(Names of witnesses here.) If there is a codicil, the contents, date of signature, and names of witnesses to _it_ should also be given. The contents of all deeds, leases, and other documents should, as far as this is practicable, be noted in a somewhat similar manner. CHAPTER X AN ADDITIONAL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS WHICH MAY BE USEFUL WHEN TRACING A PEDIGREE Chamberlain’s _Angliæ Notitia; or, The Present State of Great Britain_, commenced in 1663, and was continued nearly every year until 1755. If information is required between these dates as to the professional or official classes, this will be found a valuable work to consult.