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Ireland Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Church of Ireland 3.jpg|right|276x289px|Church of Ireland]]Probate records are court records relating to the distribution of a deceased person's estate. Generally they record the deceased's date of death; names, relationships, residences of heirs and guardians; and names of witnesses. Although incomplete, records relating to probate can be traced in Ireland back to the seventeenth century for most areas of the country.<br> | [[Image:Church of Ireland 3.jpg|right|276x289px|Church of Ireland]]Probate records are court records relating to the distribution of a deceased person's estate. Generally they record the deceased's date of death; names, relationships, residences of heirs and guardians; and names of witnesses. Although incomplete, records relating to probate can be traced in Ireland back to the seventeenth century for most areas of the country.<br> <br> Given the need to leave a will stemmed from holding assets, it stands to reason that not every person who died left probate records. Most wills were left by males with property. However, wills often list the names of the deceased's family and friends, so that many more people are listed in probate records than actually left them. | ||
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Given the need to leave a will stemmed from holding assets, it stands to reason that not every person who died left probate records. Most wills were left by males with property. However, wills often list the names of the deceased's family and friends, so that many more people are listed in probate records than actually left them. | |||
=== Types of Probate Documents === | === Types of Probate Documents === | ||
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=== Post-1857 Probate Courts === | === Post-1857 Probate Courts === | ||
In 1858, civil, government, courts took on the work | In 1858, civil, government, courts took on the work of proving wills and administrations. Eleven district will registries and a Principal Probate Registry in Dublin replaced the church probate courts. | ||
Each registry made copies of wills and administrations that it proved in 'will and admon books' and after 20 years sent the originals to the Public Record Office in Dublin. The originals and copies, of almost all records of the Principal Probate Registry (which also had jurisdiction as a district court over the counties of Dublin and Kildare) were destroyed in the fire that consumed the Public Record Office in 1922. | Each registry made copies of wills and administrations that it proved in 'will and admon books' and after 20 years sent the originals to the Public Record Office in Dublin. The originals and copies, of almost all records of the Principal Probate Registry (which also had jurisdiction as a district court over the counties of Dublin and Kildare) were destroyed in the fire that consumed the Public Record Office in 1922. | ||
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For the years 1858-1877 there is a consolidated index to the calendars. Arranged by surname, the index gives the name of the deceased, the district registry where the probate was proved, and whether the probate involved a will or an admon. To find the film numbers for the Irish calendar and master index, select the calendar by Ireland, Principal Probate Registry (Dublin) in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. There existed a further consolidated index to the calendars for the period 1878 to 1900, but this was destroyed in 1922. | For the years 1858-1877 there is a consolidated index to the calendars. Arranged by surname, the index gives the name of the deceased, the district registry where the probate was proved, and whether the probate involved a will or an admon. To find the film numbers for the Irish calendar and master index, select the calendar by Ireland, Principal Probate Registry (Dublin) in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. There existed a further consolidated index to the calendars for the period 1878 to 1900, but this was destroyed in 1922. | ||
If you are searching for a will proved between 1858 and 1877, look first at the | If you are searching for a will proved between 1858 and 1877, look first at the consolidated index. If you are looking for a will proved after 1877, go directly to the calendar(s). These sources will tell you the district registry where the will was proved. Once you identify the district registry, you can easily establish if a relavant will or admon books survives. District records, including indexes, that are available at the Family History Library are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS. | ||
=== Transcripts and Abstracts of Destroyed Probate Records === | === Collections of Transcripts and Abstracts of Destroyed Probate Records === | ||
With the destruction of the original Prerogative Wills and most of the Will Books into which they were transcribed, the importance of transcripts made by various researchers cannot be over emphasized. By nature, interest in the wealthier classes and their lineages led to numerous will abstracts and transcripts. The more notable collections are here described, certainly there are many others. | |||
==== William Betham (1779-1853) ==== | ==== William Betham (1779-1853) ==== | ||