FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Texas Tasks-FamilySearch Probate Records
WikiProject Texas 
Wiki Project Texas Tasks - FamilySearch Probate Records
Description[edit | edit source]
The purpose of this task is to add any historical probate records for Texas counties found on FamilySearch Historical Records.
This task is an intermediate task and requires some knowledge about or experience with writing in wikitext.
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- See Editing Help – Online Video Demonstration.
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Probate Records
Since the formation of the first 23 counties under the Republic, county clerks have been required to record virtually all papers filed in probate cases in the Probate Minutes. In many counties, however, clerks began to limit the Probate Minutes to a record of the proceedings in probate cases and to record the case papers in separate volumes called the Probate Record. In some counties, the Probate Record itself was further subdivided into separate volumes relating to various aspects of the probate process -- guardianship, applications for administration, administrators' bonds and oaths, estate inventories, final accounts, probate claims, reports of sale, orders for partition and distribution, etc. Unlike many states, there has never been a requirement for separate recordation of wills in Texas, although in some counties will have been or are recorded in a Will Record.
Researchers should be aware that in some counties records of probate proceedings can be found in the District Court Minutes or District Court Civil Minutes during the period from 1869 to 1876 when the county court and the office of the county clerk were abolished. In most counties, however, wills can be found in the Probate Record. The Probate Case Papers themselves (and related records series such as Guardianship Case Papers) have been filmed in some counties.
From https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/local/aboutrecords.html#4
Instructions[edit | edit source]
1. Not all counties have records included in this task. Check the County_Assignment_Charts below to choose a county to edit.
2. Sign up on the County_Assignment_Charts to accept the task. Sign-up instructions are posted with the Assignment Chart below.
3. Click on your chosen county name in the County_Assignment_Charts. This will take you to your county page.
4. Login to the FamilySearch wiki using your FamilySearch login name and password. Find the sign-in area in the top right-hand corner of the page.
5. Click on the Probate section in the Contents.
6. On the right side of the heading, click on the edit button that looks like a pencil in a box. This takes you to the Editing of that section.
7. Click on the word Wikitext.
8. Copy and paste the following record in chronological(date) order with any records already on that page.
- If there are no other records in this section, place your cursor so that it is under the ==== Probate ==== Probate Intro, then hit Enter so there is a blank line before adding these records.
- If there are other records here, place your cursor where you want these to appear so they will be in Chronological Order.
- :*'''1800-1990''' - {{RecordSearch|2016287|Texas, Probate Records, 1800-1990}} at FamilySearch – free. This collection contains images of probate records from seventy-five different counties in the state of Texas. The content and time period of these records vary by county. <br>
- :*'''1800-1990''' - {{RecordSearch|2016287|Texas, Probate Records, 1800-1990}} at FamilySearch – free. This collection contains images of probate records from seventy-five different counties in the state of Texas. The content and time period of these records vary by county. <br>
9. Click Enter.
10. IF you are working in Comanche County - also add this under the Probate Section in Chronological order:
- :*'''1866–1937''' - {{RecordSearch|1831470|Texas, Comanche County Probate Files, 1813-1917}} at FamilySearch – free. Currently, (September 2012) this collection is only searchable by [[How to Navigate Browsable Images|browsing]] the images. These records include probate case files and probate minutes. <br>
- :*'''1866–1937''' - {{RecordSearch|1831470|Texas, Comanche County Probate Files, 1813-1917}} at FamilySearch – free. Currently, (September 2012) this collection is only searchable by [[How to Navigate Browsable Images|browsing]] the images. These records include probate case files and probate minutes. <br>
14. In the 'Summary:' box at the bottom of the page put: Adding Probate records from Historical Records Collection
15. Click Save Page.
- If you have questions about editing, go to wiki help links under the heading Description.
16. Mark the Assignment Chart below to indicate you have finished the task.
Section Example[edit | edit source]
Probate[edit | edit source]
- 1790–1967 - Ohio, Probate Records, 1790-1967 at FamilySearch – free. This collection consists of probate records and estate files from county courthouses in Ohio. The content and time period varies by county, with more records being added as they become available. This Collection will include records from 1789 to 1996. Currently, (September 2012) the collection is only searchable by browsing the images. A list of Fires that have destroyed records in the courthouses of several counties are listed on the Record Description page.
- 1790–1967 - Ohio, Probate Records, 1790-1967 at FamilySearch – free. This collection consists of probate records and estate files from county courthouses in Ohio. The content and time period varies by county, with more records being added as they become available. This Collection will include records from 1789 to 1996. Currently, (September 2012) the collection is only searchable by browsing the images. A list of Fires that have destroyed records in the courthouses of several counties are listed on the Record Description page.
- 1850–1900 Ohio, Montgomery County, Probate Estate Files, 1850-1900 at FamilySearch – free. Images of probate estate files from the Montgomery County Records Center and Archive in Dayton, Ohio. Usually the files are chronological and have a case file number. This collection is being published as images become available.
- 1850–1900 Ohio, Montgomery County, Probate Estate Files, 1850-1900 at FamilySearch – free. Images of probate estate files from the Montgomery County Records Center and Archive in Dayton, Ohio. Usually the files are chronological and have a case file number. This collection is being published as images become available.
Assignment Chart[edit | edit source]
Remember NOT all counties have records included in this task. If you are accepting this task:
- 1. Sign in to the wiki at the upper right-hand corner of this page. Use your FamilySearch account username and password.
- 2. Open the Assignment Chart for editing by clicking on the check mark in the box at the right opposite the Assignment Table heading.
- 3. Place your cursor in the box under the heading Name/Date Task Accepted and opposite your county of choice.
- 4. Type 4 tildes (~). This symbol is located on the upper left-hand part of your keyboard, next to the number 1. The ~~~~ is an electronic signature and will leave your user name and date when you signed.
- 5. Scroll nearly to the bottom of the page. Add a summary sentence in the Summary box saying something like, "Selected Adams County for adding FamilySearch Vital Records".
- 6. Click on the box "Save Page".
- 7. You are now signed up to complete this task.
If you are completing this task:
- Follow the same instructions as accepting the task, except place your cursor in the correct county box under the heading Date Completed. Change your summary sentence to something like, "Completed Adams County for societies."
County Assignment Charts[edit | edit source]
Counties A-B[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson | ||
| Andrews | ||
| Angelina | ||
| Aransas | ||
| Archer | ||
| Armstrong | ||
| Atascosa | ||
| Austin | ||
| Bailey | ||
| Bandera | ||
| Bastrop | ||
| Baylor | ||
| Bee | ||
| Bell | ||
| Bexar | ||
| Blanco | ||
| Borden | ||
| Bosque | ||
| Bowie | ||
| Brazoria | ||
| Brazos | ||
| Brewster | ||
| Briscoe | ||
| Brooks | ||
| Brown | ||
| Burleson | ||
| Burnet |
Counties C-D[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Caldwell | ||
| Calhoun | ||
| Callahan | ||
| Cameron | ||
| Camp | ||
| Carson | ||
| Cass | ||
| Castro | ||
| Chambers | ||
| Cherokee | ||
| Childress | ||
| Clay | ||
| Cochran | ||
| Coke | ||
| Coleman | ||
| Collin | ||
| Collingsworth | ||
| Colorado | ||
| Comal | ||
| Comanche | ||
| Concho | ||
| Cooke | ||
| Coryell | ||
| Cottle | ||
| Crane | ||
| Crockett | ||
| Crosby | ||
| Culberson | ||
| Dallam | ||
| Dallas | ||
| Dawson | ||
| De Witt | ||
| Deaf Smith | ||
| Delta | ||
| Denton | ||
| Dickens | ||
| Dimmit | ||
| Donley | ||
| Duval |
Counties E-G[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Eastland | ||
| Ector | ||
| Edwards | ||
| El Paso | ||
| Ellis | ||
| Erath | ||
| Falls | ||
| Fannin | ||
| Fayette | ||
| Fisher | ||
| Floyd | ||
| Foard | ||
| Fort Bend | ||
| Franklin | ||
| Freestone | ||
| Frio | ||
| Gaines | ||
| Galveston | ||
| Garza | ||
| Gillespie | ||
| Glasscock | ||
| Goliad | ||
| Gonzales | ||
| Gray | ||
| Grayson | ||
| Gregg | ||
| Grimes | ||
| Guadalupe |
Counties H[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Hale | ||
| Hall | ||
| Hamilton | ||
| Hansford | ||
| Hardeman | ||
| Hardin | ||
| Harris | ||
| Harrison | ||
| Hartley | ||
| Haskell | ||
| Hays | ||
| Hemphill | ||
| Henderson | ||
| Hidalgo | ||
| Hill | ||
| Hockley | ||
| Hood | ||
| Hopkins | ||
| Houston | ||
| Howard | ||
| Hudspeth | ||
| Hunt | ||
| Hutchinson |
Counties I-K[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Irion | ||
| Jack | ||
| Jackson | ||
| Jasper | ||
| Jeff Davis | ||
| Jefferson | ||
| Jim Hogg | ||
| Jim Wells | ||
| Johnson | ||
| Jones | ||
| Karnes | ||
| Kaufman | ||
| Kendall | ||
| Kenedy | ||
| Kent | ||
| Kerr | ||
| Kimble | ||
| King | ||
| Kinney | ||
| Kleberg | ||
| Knox |
Counties L-M[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| La Salle | ||
| Lamar | ||
| Lamb | ||
| Lampasas | ||
| Lavaca | ||
| Lee | ||
| Leon | ||
| Liberty | ||
| Limestone | ||
| Lipscomb | ||
| Live Oak | ||
| Llano | ||
| Loving | ||
| Lubbock | ||
| Lynn | ||
| Madison | ||
| Marion | ||
| Martin | ||
| Mason | ||
| Matagorda | ||
| Maverick | ||
| McCulloch | ||
| McLennan | ||
| McMullen | ||
| Medina | ||
| Menard | ||
| Midland | ||
| Milam | ||
| Mills | ||
| Mitchell | ||
| Montague | ||
| Montgomery | ||
| Moore | ||
| Morris | ||
| Motley |
Counties N-R[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Nacogdoches | ||
| Navarro | ||
| Newton | ||
| Nolan | ||
| Nueces | ||
| Ochiltree | ||
| Oldham | ||
| Orange | ||
| Palo Pinto | ||
| Panola | ||
| Parker | ||
| Parmer | ||
| Pecos | ||
| Polk | ||
| Potter | ||
| Presidio | ||
| Rains | ||
| Randall | ||
| Reagan | ||
| Real | ||
| Red River | ||
| Reeves | ||
| Refugio | ||
| Roberts | ||
| Robertson | ||
| Rockwall | ||
| Runnels | ||
| Rusk |
Counties S-V[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine | ||
| San Augustine | ||
| San Jacinto | ||
| San Patricio | ||
| San Saba | ||
| Schleicher | ||
| Scurry | ||
| Shackelford | ||
| Shelby | ||
| Sherman | ||
| Smith | ||
| Somervell | ||
| Starr | ||
| Stephens | ||
| Sterling | ||
| Stonewall | ||
| Sutton | ||
| Swisher | ||
| Tarrant | ||
| Taylor | ||
| Terrell | ||
| Terry | ||
| Throckmorton | ||
| Titus | ||
| Tom Green | ||
| Travis | ||
| Trinity | ||
| Tyler | ||
| Upshur | ||
| Upton | ||
| Uvalde | ||
| Val Verde | ||
| Van Zandt | ||
| Victoria |
Counties W-Z[edit | edit source]
| County | Name/Date Task Accepted | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Walker | ||
| Waller | ||
| Ward | ||
| Washington | ||
| Webb | ||
| Wharton | ||
| Wheeler | ||
| Wichita | ||
| Wilbarger | ||
| Willacy | ||
| Williamson | ||
| Wilson | ||
| Winkler | ||
| Wise | ||
| Wood | ||
| Yoakum | ||
| Young | ||
| Zapata | ||
| Zavala |
Counties with records in Texas, Probate Records, 1800-1990
[edit | edit source]
County
• Anderson
• Archer
• Bastrop
• Bell
• Blanco
• Bosque
• Bowie
• Brooks
• Brown
• Burnet
• Caldwell
• Cass
• Cherokee
• Coke
• Collin
• Colorado
• Comal
• Cooke
• Coryell
• Dallas
• Ellis
• Erath
• Falls
• Fayette
• Fisher
• Gillespie
• Gonzales
• Gregg
• Guadalupe
• Hamilton
• Harrison
• Haskell
• Hays
• Henderson
• Hill
• Hood
• Hunt
• Johnson
• Karnes
• Kaufman
• Kenedy
• Knox
• Lampasas
• Lee
• Leon
• Llano
• Madison
• Marion
• Matagorda
• McLennan
• Milam
• Montague
• Morris
• Navarro
• Panola
• Parker
• Robertson
• Rockwall
• Shackelford
• Smith
• Somervell
• Stephens
• Stonewall
• Taylor
• Throckmorton
• Titus
• Van Zandt
• Washington
• Wichita
• Wilbarger
• Willacy
• Williamson
• Wise
• Wood
• Young