Jamaica Probate Records: Difference between revisions
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*Mitchell, Madeleine Enid. ''Alphabetical Index to Early Wills of Jamaica, West Indies, 1655-1816: PCC Wills, 1655-1816, Registrar General's Office, Spanish Town, 1662-1750''. [Pullman, Wash.]: M.E. Mitchell, 2000. {{FHL|1013940|item}} 972.92 P22m; free digital version at [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jamwgw/early.htm Index to Early Wills at Jamaica, 1655-1816]. | *Mitchell, Madeleine Enid. ''Alphabetical Index to Early Wills of Jamaica, West Indies, 1655-1816: PCC Wills, 1655-1816, Registrar General's Office, Spanish Town, 1662-1750''. [Pullman, Wash.]: M.E. Mitchell, 2000. {{FHL|1013940|item}} 972.92 P22m; free digital version at [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jamwgw/early.htm Index to Early Wills at Jamaica, 1655-1816]. | ||
A list of early Jamaican wills, taken from a manuscript at the British Museum (now [[The_British_Library|the British Library]]), was published in 1910, and is now available online: | |||
*"Names of Persons whose Wills are registered in Jamaica previous to 1700," ''Caribeanna'', Vol. 1 (1910):103-114. Digitised by [http://dloc.com/UF00075409/00001/123j?search=caribbeana dLOC] - free.<br> | |||
For a smaller list of microfilmed Jamaican wills available through the Family History Library, see: | For a smaller list of microfilmed Jamaican wills available through the Family History Library, see: | ||
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*[http://www.apex.net.au/~tmj/jam-tstr.htm Testators of Wills Proved in Jamaica] is a free online index to microfilmed wills covering the years 1756 to 1930. | *[http://www.apex.net.au/~tmj/jam-tstr.htm Testators of Wills Proved in Jamaica] is a free online index to microfilmed wills covering the years 1756 to 1930. | ||
Indexes to early Jamaica wills proved locally and in London were also published in ''Caribbeana''. | Indexes to early Jamaica wills proved locally and in London were also published in ''Caribbeana''. | ||
=== Proved in Jamaica === | === Proved in Jamaica === | ||
Revision as of 13:45, 3 August 2012
While a part of the British Empire, many residents of Jamaica sent their wills to London, England or Edinburgh, Scotland to be proved. Most people's wills were proved locally on the island, and some were proved in courts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Indexes[edit | edit source]
A published index to Jamaica testators is available online and in print. It covers wills proved both locally and in London:
- Mitchell, Madeleine Enid. Alphabetical Index to Early Wills of Jamaica, West Indies, 1655-1816: PCC Wills, 1655-1816, Registrar General's Office, Spanish Town, 1662-1750. [Pullman, Wash.]: M.E. Mitchell, 2000. FHL Collection 972.92 P22m; free digital version at Index to Early Wills at Jamaica, 1655-1816.
A list of early Jamaican wills, taken from a manuscript at the British Museum (now the British Library), was published in 1910, and is now available online:
- "Names of Persons whose Wills are registered in Jamaica previous to 1700," Caribeanna, Vol. 1 (1910):103-114. Digitised by dLOC - free.
For a smaller list of microfilmed Jamaican wills available through the Family History Library, see:
- Testators of Wills Proved in Jamaica is a free online index to microfilmed wills covering the years 1756 to 1930.
Indexes to early Jamaica wills proved locally and in London were also published in Caribbeana.
Proved in Jamaica[edit | edit source]
Proved in London[edit | edit source]
Nearly 1500 Jamaican wills were proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London. Approximate numbers by century:[1]
| 1657-1699 | 80 | 1700-1799 | 624 | 1800-1858 | 745 |
After finding a desired entry in indexes, it is now possible to view digital images of the original Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills online at two United Kingdom pay-per-view websites:
- Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1384-1858), courtesy: The National Archives, UK. The database can be queried by testator's residence, such as "Jamaica."
- PCC Wills Index and Images (1384-1858), courtesy: The Genealogist. (in progress)
Proved in Edinburgh[edit | edit source]
The wills of some Jamaica residents were proved in Edinburgh, Scotland, see:
- Dobson, David. Scottish-American Wills, 1650-1900. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. FHL 973 P22 Over 2,000 citations including name, occupation, residence, and date.
Most of these references were taken from the Commissariat Court of Edinburgh (now the Sheriff Court of Edinburgh) and the Index to Personal Estates of Defuncts, 1846-1866. If you find a will abstact that interests you in Dobson's book, it is now possible to view digital images of the original records online at a United Kingdom pay-per-view website:
- Wills & Testaments (1513-1901), courtesy: Scotlands People
Websites[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Wills," accessed 22 November 2010. Some references refer to places named Jamaica in the British Isles, rather than the island in the Caribbean.