Rhode Island Probate Records: Difference between revisions

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''[[United States|United States ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]  [[Rhode Island|Rhode Island ]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]  [[Rhode_Island_Probate_Records|Probate Records]]'' UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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| link1=[[United States Genealogy|United States]]
| link2=[[United States Probate Records|U.S. Probate Records]]
| link3=[[Rhode Island, United States Genealogy|Rhode Island]]
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| link5=[[Rhode Island Probate Records|Probate Records]]
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== Record Synopsis  ==
==Online Resources==
*'''1582-1932''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9079/ Rhode Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932] at Ancestry - index & images ($)
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text Full-Text Search - Probate Records] at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P00oMDsAsSw How to Search]


Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black's Law Dictionary,'' 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."</ref> Various types of records are created throughout the probate process. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. For further information about probate records and the probate process see&nbsp;[https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/United_States_Probate_Records United States Probate Records].
===Record Synopsis===


== History  ==
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black's Law Dictionary,'' 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."</ref> Genealogists often refer to 'Probate Records' as "All records which relate to the disposition of an estate," whether the person died leaving a will (testate) or not (intestate).<ref>Val. D. Greenwood, ''The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy,'' 3rd ed. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000), 309.</ref>


Probate matters were recorded by town councils until each town established a probate court. Many of the published town records include references to wills and estate matters.
Various records may be found in a probate file. These may include wills, guardianships, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, depositions, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents.  


== State Statutes  ==
For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]].


== Repositories  ==
===History===


==== Local  ====
Probate matters were recorded by town councils until each town established a probate court. Many of the published town records include references to wills and estate matters.


==== Regional  ====
===State Statutes===


==== National  ====
===Repositories===


*The [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Family_History_Library Family History Library] has microfilm copies of many of these records. They are listed in the [http://fsbeta.familysearch.org/#form=catalog Family History Library Catalog] under RHODE ISLAND, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - PROBATE RECORDS. From the municipal courts of Providence, for example, the library has 39 films of probate proceedings (1798-1920), will books (1678-1899), and dockets and indexes (1646-1921).
====Local====


== Statewide Record Collections  ==
====Regional====


The probate records of Providence, 1670 to 1730, have been published. Also see Frank Calef's index to Providence probate records of 1663 to 1775 ({{FHL|022385}}).
*The [[New England Historic Genealogical Society|New England Historic Genealogical Society]] located in the heart of downtown Boston, Massachusetts has early Rhode Island probate records available on microfilm. To search their online library catalog click [http://library.nehgs.org/ Here].


*Wakefield, Robert S. ''Index to Wills in Rhode Island Genealogical Register'', Volumes 1 through 4. Warwick, Rhode Island: Plymouth Colony Research Group, 1982. ({{FHL|974.5 D2ri}}.); An excellent index to a large number of Rhode Island wills to about 1850. The Rhode Island Genealogical Register continues to publish abstracts of wills.
====National====


The general council, also known as the Council of Probate, kept minutes and documents dealing with probate appeals for the years 1667 to 1813 ({{FHL|954936}}-37).
*The [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] has microfilm copies of many of these records. For collection details see the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Catalog]. Use the "Place Search" option to search for a specific Rhode Island county or town. Then look for the topic labeled "Probate Records."


== Learn More  ==
===Statewide Record Collections===


==== Published Materials  ====
*''General Council Meeting Minutes and Documents''. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. ({{FSC|954936}}-37). The Rhode Island general council, also known as the Council of Probate, kept minutes and documents dealing with probate appeals for the years 1667 to 1813.


*Melnyk, Marcia D. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/genealogists-handbook-for-new-england-research/oclc/42829198&referer=brief_results ''Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research''], 4th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. ({{FHL|974 D27g}}.)
*Wakefield, Robert S. ''Index to Wills in Rhode Island Genealogical Register'', Volumes 1 through 4. Warwick, Rhode Island: Plymouth Colony Research Group, 1982. {{WorldCat|8760541|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|1237148|item|disp=FS Library Book 974.5 D2ri}}.); An excellent index to a large number of Rhode Island wills to about 1850. The Rhode Island Genealogical Register continues to publish abstracts of wills.


==== Websites  ====
===Learn More===
*Diane Boumenot ''Rhode Island Probate Research'' NGS Magazine 48 #2 (April-June, 2022): 44 - FS Library 973 D25ngs v.48 no. 2


== References  ==
====Published Materials====


<references />
*Melnyk, Marcia D. ''Genealogist's Handbook for New England Research'', 4th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. {{WorldCat|42829198|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|957031|item|disp=FS Library Book 974 D27g}}


{{Place|Rhode Island}}
====Websites====


[[Category:Rhode_Island|Probate]]
===References===
 
<references />
 
{{Rhode Island|Rhode Island}}
 
[[Category:Rhode Island, United States|Probate]]
[[Category:United States Probate Records]]

Latest revision as of 18:12, 6 June 2024

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Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Record Synopsis[edit | edit source]

Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.”[1] Genealogists often refer to 'Probate Records' as "All records which relate to the disposition of an estate," whether the person died leaving a will (testate) or not (intestate).[2]

Various records may be found in a probate file. These may include wills, guardianships, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, depositions, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents.

For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see United States Probate Records.

History[edit | edit source]

Probate matters were recorded by town councils until each town established a probate court. Many of the published town records include references to wills and estate matters.

State Statutes[edit | edit source]

Repositories[edit | edit source]

Local[edit | edit source]

Regional[edit | edit source]

National[edit | edit source]

  • The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of many of these records. For collection details see the FamilySearch Catalog. Use the "Place Search" option to search for a specific Rhode Island county or town. Then look for the topic labeled "Probate Records."

Statewide Record Collections[edit | edit source]

  • General Council Meeting Minutes and Documents. Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1974. (FS Library 954936-37). The Rhode Island general council, also known as the Council of Probate, kept minutes and documents dealing with probate appeals for the years 1667 to 1813.
  • Wakefield, Robert S. Index to Wills in Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Volumes 1 through 4. Warwick, Rhode Island: Plymouth Colony Research Group, 1982. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 974.5 D2ri.); An excellent index to a large number of Rhode Island wills to about 1850. The Rhode Island Genealogical Register continues to publish abstracts of wills.

Learn More[edit | edit source]

  • Diane Boumenot Rhode Island Probate Research NGS Magazine 48 #2 (April-June, 2022): 44 - FS Library 973 D25ngs v.48 no. 2

Published Materials[edit | edit source]

Websites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Henry Campbell Black, Black's Law Dictionary, 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 1081, "probate."
  2. ↑ Val. D. Greenwood, The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, 3rd ed. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000), 309.
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