Ireland Probate Records: Difference between revisions

=== Post-1857 Probate Jurisdictions   ===

=== Post-1857 Probate Courts  ===

In 1858, civil, government, courts took on the work of proving wills and administrations. Eleven district will registries and a Principal Probate Registry in Dublin replaced the church probate courts. 

Each registry made copies of wills and administrations that it proved in 'will and admon books' and after 20 years sent the originals to the Public Record Office in Dublin. The originals and copies, of almost all records of the Principal Probate Registry (which also had jurisdiction as a district court over the counties of Dublin and Kildare) were destroyed in the fire that consumed the Public Record Office in 1922. 

Copies of wills and administrations kept by other district registries have been gathered into the National Archives and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, where they remain grouped by district. To determine the district registry that served your county of interest, see the Irish Probates Register or Anthony Camp, Wills and Their Whereabouts. 

From 1858 there is a calendar or index of the grants of probate and letters of administration for the Principal Probate Registry and in the several district registries. Produced by the Principal Probate Registry, Dublin, this calendar is arranged alphabetically by the name of the testator. The Family History Library has a copy on {{FHL|217698|title-id|disp=46 rolls of film}}. For each entry the calendar tells the testator's name; the executor's name; the court where the will was registered; and the deceased person's name, occupation, date & place of death. The calendars held at the National Archives, Dublin, only include the district registries of Armagh, Belfast & Londonderry to 1918. 

For the years 1858-1877 there is a consolidated index to the calendars. Arranged by surname, the index gives the name of the deceased, the district registry where the probate was proved, and whether the probate involved a will or an admon. To find the film numbers for the Irish calendar and master index, select the calendar by Ireland, Principal Probate Registry (Dublin) in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. There existed a further consolidated index to the calendars for the period 1878 to 1900, but this was destroyed in 1922. 

If you are searching for a will proved between 1858 and 1877, look first at the consolidated index. If you are looking for a will proved after 1877, go directly to the calendar(s). These sources will tell you the district registry where the will was proved. Once you identify the district registry, you can easily establish if a relavant will or admon books survives. District records, including indexes, that are available at the Family History Library are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS. 

Camp, Anthony J. ''Wills and Their Whereabouts''. 4th ed. London: Anthony J. Camp, 1974. (Family History Library {{FHL|413992|title-id|disp=book Ref 942 S2wa.)}}  

''Irish Probates Register''. Typescript. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 1979. (Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 P2gs|disp=book Reg. 941.5 P2gs.)}}  

Darwin, Kenneth. Administrations From The Peculiar of Newry and Mourne. The Irish Ancestor Vol.1, No. 1, 1969 941.5 B2i  Page 41 and 42, Family History Library Salt Lake City.  Small alphabetical list of Administrations found for Newry and Mourne, Years 1811-1857.   

Punch, Terrence M. Wills of Irish Interest in the Probate Registry at Halifax, Nova Scotia.  

A selection of Wills of Irish interest from the first five Will books - in alphabetical order of testators.  Article in The Irish Ancestor Vo. 1 No. 2, 1969 Family History Library Ref 941.5 B2i  

Abstract of Wills.  Heirs of Wills of the following people, Lydia Carroll 1779. Margaret Dobbs 1754. John Kellett 1806. Andrew Ram 1697. Sarah Wills 1792, all of Dublin. Article in The Irish Ancestor, vol.V no. 1. 1973. pages 53-61, Family History Ref. 941.5 B2i v.5-6, also Wills of persons with surnames of Chambers, Cook, Croker, Going, Minitt, Muneere, Purecell, Purcel, Toter and Vickers covering years 1642-1818. The Irish Ancestor. vol. XIV. no. 2. 1982 pages 121-125, FHL Ref. 941.5 B2i vol. 14.  

Phillimore, W. P. W., and Gertrude Thrift, eds. ''Indexes to Irish Wills. 1909-20''. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1970. (Family History Library {{FHL|6036097|film|disp=book 941.5 P22i 1970; fiche 6036097 nos. 1-10}}.)  

Vicars, Sir Arthur, ed. ''Index to the Prerogative Wills of Ireland, 1536-1810''. 1897. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1967. (Family History Library {{FHL|417479|title-id|disp=book 941.5 P22v 1967; fiche 6026394.)}} His book is also available [http://books.google.com/books?q=Irish+wills online].  

'''[http://sources.nli.ie Sources]''', a database catalogue containing references to many copy wills found in various archives and libraries. Contains the entirety of Hayes, Richard J. [[Hayes Manuscript and Periodical Sources for Irish Research|''Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilization.'']] (Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 A5h|disp=book 941.5 A5h}}.).  

Donation of material by the public. Abstract of Wills. Alphabetical listing of  Abstract of Wills proved in the Consistorial Courts in various Counties covering years 1688-1835.  Article in Irish Ancestor, Vol III.no.2.1971 pages 92-101. Family History Library Book Ref. 941.5 B2i   also 18 Abstract of Wills mainly of Dublin, Co. Cork, Co. Limerick, and Co. Tipperary. covering  years 1616-1832, The Irish Ancestor, Vol. IV. no. 1. 1972, pages 45-51, Family History Ref. 941.5 B2i   

'''Public Record Office of Northern Ireland'''. ''Card Index to Wills in the Several Collections Held at the Public Record Office, Belfast 1536-1920.'' (Family History Library {{FHL|377738|title-id|disp=film 1565572-75 and 1565578}}.) This index was filmed by the Family History Library in 1990. The index lists many copy wills and other probate records found at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. The index is listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. Copies of the wills listed in the index can be obtained from the Public Record Office or can be viewed on microfilm at the Family History Library. The library's copies of the wills are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under:  

'''Ireland, Public Record Office'''. ''Testamentary Documents Card Index, Seventeenth to Twentieth Centuries.'' This card index lists surviving original wills and copy wills that were collected after the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1922. These wills and copies of wills are now on file at the National Archives. The 1928 version of the index is published in Public Record Office, Dublin, The Fifty-Sixth Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records and Keeper of the State Papers in Ireland (Dublin, ireland: Stationery Office, 1931; Family History Library {{FHL|0990493|film|disp=book 941.5 A5r; film 0990493 item 8 and 0100239 item 4; fiche 6023597-602}}). In 1990, the Family History Library filmed the index. The index is listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS - INDEXES. Some copies of wills referenced in the index are also on film at the library. These are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS.  

Eustace, P. Beryl, ed. vol. 1, 1708-45 and vol. 2, 1746-85; and Eilish Ellis, ed. vol. 3, 1785-1832. ''Registry of Deeds, Dublin: Abstracts of Wills.'' Dublin, Ireland: Stationery Office, 1954-. (Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 P22e|disp=book 941.5 P22e; vols. 1 and 2 only are on film 896,887.)}} These volumes contain abstracts of copies of wills registered after probate in the Registry of Deeds.  

'''Index to many abstracts and copies of wills in the Genealogical Office of Ireland'''. A copy of this index can be found in P. Beryl Eustace, comp., ''Index of Will Abstracts in the Genealogical Office, Dublin'' (Dublin, Ireland: Stationery Office, 1948; Family History Library {{FHL|286097|title-id|disp=book 941.5 S2eu; film 990430 item 4}}.)  

'''Indexes and registers held by the Inland Revenue office''', London of Irish wills and administrations proved between 1828 and 1879. ''Commissioners of Inland Revenue, Irish Will Indexes, 1838-79'' (Family History Library {{FHL|232755|title-id|disp=film 597268-72;}} indexes for 1862-63 are missing) and in any case the indexes from 1858 onwards add nothing to what can already be found in the printed calendars which were published from that year on, see further. These indexes record the name of the testator, the name and residence of the executor, the court in which the will was proved, and the folio number of the original will. ''Commissioners of Inland Revenue, Irish Administration Indexes, 1828-79'' (Family History Library {{FHL|232755|title-id|disp=film 597278-81}}; indexes for 1830-31 and 1851 are missing) gives the name and sometimes residence of the deceased, the name and residence of the administrator, the name of the court where the administration was granted, and the folio number of the original administration. The will and admon registers - on which the indexes are based - survive for the years 1828 to 1839 and are summaries of the originals wills and admons. The registers from 1840 to 1879 are missing, now presumed lost. The existing registers contain names and relationships of heirs and often the death date of the deceased. The registers and indexes are on film at the Family History Library. They are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under IRELAND - PROBATE RECORDS.  

'''Irish estate duty wills'''. Irish wills proved in English courts between 1812 and 1857 were subject to an estate duty tax. Abstracts of these wills were kept at the Estate Duty Office in London but have since been transferred to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Abstracts for the years 1812-1820 and part of the list for 1821 no longer exist. Surviving copies begin in 1821 and are alphabetized beginning with the letter k. Filmed copies of the surviving abstracts are available at the Family History Library. They are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under:  

'''Commissioners for Charitable Donations.'''From 1800 this body compiled abstracts of all wills in which bequests of a charitable nature were made. These records can often provide detailed information about a deceased where the original will no longer survives. The records are held at the National Archives, Dublin.  

Betham, Sir William.''Genealogical Abstracts [of Prerogative Wills of Ireland]''. Dublin, Ireland: Public Record Office. (Family History Library {{FHL|224404|title-id|disp=film 595939-45; 596139-40}}.) This source is arranged alphabetically. An invaluable source for abstracts of all preogative wills up to approximately 1810.  

Betham, Sir William. ''Volume of Abstracts of Grants of Administration, Prerogative, 1595-1802.'' This set of notebooks is at the National Archives. It is not arranged alphabetically. The Genealogical Office has a version that is arranged alphabetically. The Family History Library has a microfilm copy of this alphabetical version, ''Prerogative Court Records'', Dublin, Ireland (Family History Library {{FHL|464928|title-id|disp=film 100114 item 2}}). See above for comment on usefulness.  

Burke, Sir John Bernard. ''Sir Bernard Burke's Collection of Wills for Forming Irish Pedigrees.'' 42 vols. Belfast, Ireland: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. (Family History Library {{FHL|143389|title-id|disp=film 227866-900}}.) This collection is indexed (Family History Library {{FHL|143389|title-id|disp=film 227866-69}}).  

Clare, Wallace. ''Abstracts from Some Irish Wills.'' (Family History Library {{FHL|222252|title-id|disp=film 477000 item 2}}.) This book provides abstracts of some wills held in the Public Record Office, Kew. It is indexed.  

Leeson, Francis. Irish Nominees in the State Tontines of 1773, 1775 & 1777. Article contains alphabetical listing of Irish Nominees in The State Tontines including descendants in various counties. Article found in The Irish Ancestor vol.2 no. 1, 1970 page 47-62, Family Hisotry Library Ref. 941.5 B2i