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===Record Synopsis=== | ===Record Synopsis=== | ||
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 records may be found in probate files. These may include [[United States Probate Wills|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 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 records may be found in probate files. These may include [[United States Probate Wills|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 the [[United States Probate Process|probate process]], types of probate records, [[Analyzing United States Probate Records|analyzing probate records]], and to access a [[Glossary of United States Probate Terms|glossary]] of probate terms, see [[United States Probate Records|United States Probate Records]].<br> | ||
===History=== | ===History=== | ||
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*[http://registers.maryland.gov/main/search1.html Maryland Office of the Register of Wills] index | *[http://registers.maryland.gov/main/search1.html Maryland Office of the Register of Wills] index | ||
A card index kept at the Maryland State Archives, | A card index kept at the Maryland State Archives, to Maryland probate records, is available online: | ||
*[http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se4/000000/html/index.html Probate Records, Colonial, Index, 1637-1777, Index 1, MSA S1393] | *[http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se4/000000/html/index.html Probate Records, Colonial, Index, 1637-1777, Index 1, MSA S1393] | ||
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The following can help you locate colonial wills: | The following can help you locate colonial wills: | ||
*Cotton, Jane Baldwin, and Roberta B. Henry. ''The Maryland Calendar of Wills''. 1904-28. 16 Volumes. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. {{FSC|975.2 P28c 1968}}; vols. 1-8 on | *Cotton, Jane Baldwin, and Roberta B. Henry. ''The Maryland Calendar of Wills''. 1904-28. 16 Volumes. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1968. {{FSC|975.2 P28c 1968}}; vols. 1-8 on film {{FSC|873762}}-{{FSC|873764}}; vols. 1-8 on fiche {{FSC|6046924}}. These publications contain abstracts of wills 1635 to 1777. | ||
'''Online Digital Versions of ''The Maryland Calendar of Wills 1635-1777, 8 Volumes''''' | '''Online Digital Versions of ''The Maryland Calendar of Wills 1635-1777, 8 Volumes''''' | ||
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Additional finding aids include:<br> | Additional finding aids include:<br> | ||
*Hume, Joan. Maryland, ''Index to the Wills of . . .'' Four Volumes. Baltimore, Maryland: Carta Book Company, 1970. | *Hume, Joan. Maryland, ''Index to the Wills of . . .'' Four Volumes. Baltimore, Maryland: Carta Book Company, 1970. These volumes cover seven counties and index the names of persons leaving a will. The indexes generally extend to 1960 (FamilySearch Library various call numbers: do an author search to locate.) | ||
*''Index to Inventories of Estates, 1718-1777''. Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records Commission, 1947. {{FSC|12898}} | *''Index to Inventories of Estates, 1718-1777''. Annapolis, Maryland: Hall of Records Commission, 1947. {{FSC|12898}} | ||
*Magruder, James M., Jr. ''Index of Maryland Colonial Wills, 1635-1777''. 1933. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. {{FSC|975.2 P22m 1967}} This is a name index of early wills. The 1933 edition is available in book {{FSC|975.2 S2m}}, 3 volumes and on microfilm {{FSC|1425640}} Items 1-3. This indexes the Maryland colonial wills that are contained in the Prerogative Court records (see listing above). | *Magruder, James M., Jr. ''Index of Maryland Colonial Wills, 1635-1777''. 1933. Reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. {{FSC|975.2 P22m 1967}} This is a name index of early wills. The 1933 edition is available in book {{FSC|975.2 S2m}}, 3 volumes and on microfilm {{FSC|1425640}} Items 1-3. This indexes the Maryland colonial wills that are contained in the Prerogative Court records (see listing above). | ||
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====Proved in London==== | ====Proved in London==== | ||
Maryland wills and administrations proved in London have been abstracted and published multiple times. Each edition is listed here, as some are available online, while others are not. In addition, publishers included more detailed abstracts in some editions than | Maryland wills and administrations proved in London have been abstracted and published multiple times. Each edition is listed here, as some are available online, while others are not. In addition, publishers included more detailed abstracts in some editions than others. The 2007 edition includes a place-name index that enables users to pluck out Maryland references: | ||
*Coldham, | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1699''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48506 Ancestry] ($). | ||
*Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700-1799''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Digital version of 1991 reprint available at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48554 Ancestry] ($). | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700-1799''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Digital version of 1991 reprint available at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48554 Ancestry] ($). | ||
*Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1800-1858''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. Digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48507 Ancestry] ($). | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1800-1858''. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981. Digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48507 Ancestry] ($). | ||
*Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''American Wills & Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1857''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989. {{FSC|942 P27c}}; digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48453 Ancestry] ($). | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''American Wills & Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1857''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989. {{FSC|942 P27c}}; digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48453 Ancestry] ($). | ||
*Coldham, | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''American Wills Proved in London, 1611-1775''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. {{FSC|973 P27ca}}; digital version at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48497 Ancestry] ($). | ||
*Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''North American Wills Registered in London, 1611-1857''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007. {{FSC|942 P27c 2007}} | *Coldham, Peter Wilson. ''North American Wills Registered in London, 1611-1857''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007. {{FSC|942 P27c 2007}} | ||
If you find a will abstract of interest, it is now possible to view digital images of the original Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills online at three pay-per-view websites: | If you find a will abstract of interest, it is now possible to view digital images of the original Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills online at three pay-per-view websites: | ||
#[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1384-1858)] ($) at The National Archives, | #[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C12122 Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (1384-1858)] ($) at The National Archives, UK.<br><br> | ||
#[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/user/subscriptions.php#record_sets PCC | #[http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/user/subscriptions.php#record_sets PCC Wills Index and Images (1384-1858)] ($) at The Genealogist.<br><br> | ||
#[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5111 Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858] ($) at Ancestry. | #[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5111 Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858] ($) at Ancestry. | ||
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