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New Jersey Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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==== '''Prerogative Court, 1670 to 1784''' ==== | ==== '''Prerogative Court, 1670 to 1784''' ==== | ||
From 1702 to 1738 New York and New Jersey had the same governor. As a result many New Jersey probate records can be found among New York City, or Albany probate records. | |||
The prerogative court began probating New Jersey wills and administrations in 1670. Authority to probate estates was vested in the governor, who was the judge of the prerogative court. He functioned as the "ordinary" or "surrogate general" until 1844. Because it was impossible for governors to personally oversee all probates, they appointed deputies or "surrogates" to act in their behalf. Probates for East and West Jersey continued to be recorded in Perth Amboy and Burlington until 1784. In that year, the secretary of state became the register of the prerogative court, and all original records from then on were sent to his office in Trenton. | The prerogative court began probating New Jersey wills and administrations in 1670. Authority to probate estates was vested in the governor, who was the judge of the prerogative court. He functioned as the "ordinary" or "surrogate general" until 1844. Because it was impossible for governors to personally oversee all probates, they appointed deputies or "surrogates" to act in their behalf. Probates for East and West Jersey continued to be recorded in Perth Amboy and Burlington until 1784. In that year, the secretary of state became the register of the prerogative court, and all original records from then on were sent to his office in Trenton. | ||
In the 1790s, the probate records earlier filed with the provincial secretaries were transferred to the office of the secretary of state for preservation. Prerogative court records include wills, administrations, letters of guardianship, and records of lunacy hearings. The prerogative court only functioned in an appellate capacity from 1784 to 1947, when it was replaced by the superior courts. Probate records filed with the prerogative court since 1784 generally consist of appeals made from local surrogate's and orphans' courts and records of the settling of estates where land was situated in two or more counties. | In the 1790s, the probate records earlier filed with the provincial secretaries were transferred to the office of the secretary of state for preservation. Prerogative court records include wills, administrations, letters of guardianship, and records of lunacy hearings. The prerogative court only functioned in an appellate capacity from 1784 to 1947, when it was replaced by the superior courts. Probate records filed with the prerogative court since 1784 generally consist of appeals made from local surrogate's and orphans' courts and records of the settling of estates where land was situated in two or more counties. | ||
==== County Orphans' Courts, 1785 to 1947 ==== | ==== County Orphans' Courts, 1785 to 1947 ==== | ||