FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Probate USGenWeb

WikiProject Pennsylvania Progress Chart Pennsylvania Wiki Project Task - Probate USGenWeb & Cyndi's List

Task

Wiki Project Pennsylvania Tasks - Probate USGenWeb & Cyndi's List Task

Description

Search pertinent probate dtabases located on the county PAGenWeb page and Cyndi's List and add them to the county page.

Instructions

PART A

1. Click on PAGenweb

2. Click on your county. Once on the page, investigate the website thoroughly to see if there are databases listed for Probate records including wills and administrations. Do not be surprised if none are found.

3. If no databases are found, go to Part B below.

4. If you locate is a database, examine each link to determine:

a. If the link works. If it doesn't do not include.

b. Examine the information in the database to see if it is worth listing on the wiki. It will be your decision as to if it is worthwhile to list the database on the county page.

5. If the database looks helpful and it has not already been added, add the following after the Probate Records heading and the PA Probate Intro:

'''Online Probate Indexes'''<br>

6. Under your new heading, list the database(s) in chronological and then alphabetical order (if there are other databases on the county page) in the following manner:

:*[http://www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/wills/willindex.htm Luzerne County, Will Book 1], located on [http://www.pagenweb.org/ PAGenWeb] - also includes year will was probated and residence of deceased<br>

7. If there is information about the database that you would like to add (i.e., index only, not complete, etc), add it to the end of entry.

8. If there are dates listed in the title of the database, repeat the dates just after the bullet in bold. Make sure to use the N–dash between the dates and anytime it is used in wiki text. The N–dash is made by holding the alt key and typing 0150:

:*'''1878-1939''' - [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~palackaw/wills/index.html Will Index, Lackawanna County], located on [http://www.pagenweb.org/ PAGenWeb] - also includes deceased's death date

8. Now go to Part B.

PART B

1. To locate available probate, wills, or estate records, go to http://www.cyndislist.com and click on “Categories.” On the Categories page, select Pennyslvania which is under the heading “United States.” Select “Counties” and then the appropriate County. Choose “Wills & Probate” from the “Category Index” on the County page.

2. If there is no "Wills & Probate" listed under the county, there is nothing available on Cyndi's List and you are now done with the task.

3. If there is a "Wills & Probate" title listed, click on the link and determine:

a. Check to see if the link is already listed on the county page. Many Ancestry databases are listed here.

b. If the link works. If it doesn't, do not include it.

c. Examine the information in the database to see if it is worth listing on the wiki. It will be your decision as to if it is worthwhile to list the database.

4. If the database looks helpful, use the guidelines listed in Part A to add the database. Change the PAGenWeb in the database entry to Cyndi's List and link it to Cyndi's list webpage. If not already on the county page, be sure to add first:

'''Online Probate Indexes'''<br>

Example

Online Probate Indexes

• 1878-1939 - Will Index, Lackawanna County, located on PAGenWeb - also includes deceased's death date
  

Example of Completed Probate Records Heading

Probate matters in Berks County, Pennsylvania are handled by the Orphans' Court. To obtain original probate records, contact the Orphan's Court in the County Courthouse.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates of decedents, incompetents, and minors; appointment and control of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills involving probate matters; inheritance tax appeals and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Indexes

• 1626-1836 - Pennsylvania Wills, 1626-1836 on Ancestry. Taken from Fernow, Berthold, comp. and ed. "Calendar of Wills." New York, NY, USA: 1896. - ($).
  
• 1878-1939 - Will Index, Lackawanna County, located on PAGenWeb - also includes deceased's death date
  

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Complete Collection:

• 1683-1994 – Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 at FamilySearch.org

Berks County Only:

• 1752–1915 – Berks County Probate Records
  

Original Probate Records on Microfilm

• 1752–1860 Wills FHL film 20722 (first of 8 films) - Index included: 1752-1915
  
• 1752-1851 Administration Letters and Bonds FHL film 20812 (first of 8 films - Index included: 1752 - 1915
  
• 1752-1915 Estate Files FHL film 1644017 (first of 337 films - Arranged alphabetically by surname
  

Additional Probate Indexes and Abstracts

Additional probate indexes or abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Berks County Pennsylvania probate wills in online catalogs like:

• Historical Society of Pennsylvania
• WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
• Family History Library Catalog (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.