Vermont, Orange County, Bradford and Randolph Districts, Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

*Use probate records to identify heirs and relatives.

*Use the document (such as the will) or the recording dates to approximate a death date.

*Use the information in the probate record to substitute for civil birth and death records since the probates exist for an earlier time period.

*You may be able to use the probate record to learn about land transactions.

*Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records.

*Use the occupations listed to find other types of records such as employment or military records.

*Probate records may provide information about adoptions or guardianship of any minor children and dependents.

*Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.

*Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.

*When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. Keep in mind that wills are more likely to be found in rural communities than in larger cities and industrial areas.