Ireland Probate Records: Difference between revisions

The Phillips collection is deposited at the Public Record Office, Dublin and was microfilmed in January, 1951 by the Family History Library ({{FHL|101018|film|disp=microfilm 101018}}). The collection consists of testamentary documents, original wills and administrations. It is alphabetically arranged by box and there are several boxes to each roll of microfilm. A collection of "Large wills in the Prerogative Office" was also microfilmed (Family History Library {{FHL|101027|film|disp=microfilm 101027}}) and has an index at the beginning. These are contained in the Phillips Mss. Vol. 214.<br>  

The Prerogative Court of Armagh was subordinate to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London, England. Since many of the wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Armagh were for the upper class, these individuals often had property in other parts of the United Kingdom. When this was the case, either a copy of the will was deposited in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, or the will was proved in the Canterbury Court and a copy was deposited in Ireland. Therefore, many wills have complete copies existing in the extant wills of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. This collection is also available on microfilm through the Family History Library. For microfilm numbers, see the Family History Library Locality Catalog under the heading "ENGLAND PROBATE RECORDS".  

Many wills are registered in the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin. Often, these were copies of wills proved in other courts. Since the wealthier classes were the ones most likely to dispose of property, a number of the wills are copies of wills proved in the Prerogative Court. In some instances, only the portion of the will relating to the disposition of property was filed in the Registry of Deeds.  

These were abstracted and indexed by P. Beryl Eustace (vol. 1, 2 and 3) and Eilish Ellis (vol. 3). They were published by the Irish Manuscripts <br>Commission, Dublin volume 1: 1956, volume 2: 1954, and volume 3: 1984. Index volumes 1 and 2 of the Registry of Deeds Abstracts of Wills are also on Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 P22e|disp=book 941.5 P22e}}.  

This typescript copy was presented to the Rev. David Stewart and was acquired by the Family History Library in August, 1956. The forward written in Stewart's own hand reads: <br>"These extracts were made by me in the period between the years 1897 and 1916. In March of the former year I became minister of the congregation in Tralee, and, on visits to the North, it was customary for me to spend a little time in Dublin. On such accessions (sic) I usually spent some time in the Public Record Office and made notes of matters which were of interest to me.  

Dean Rev. H. B. Swanzy compiled an extensive collection of will abstracts, many of which are deposited at the Public Record Office Northern Ireland (Ref. T282 and T1746). The dates of the Prerogative material in this collection span the time period 1681 1846. This material supplements Betham's abstracts due to the extended time period beyond 1800. Much of the material also pertains to the diocesan courts of Clogher and Kilmore and it is probable the Prerogative material relates to individuals in these dioceses as well.  

A sizeable collection of will abstracts amounting to approximately 4,000 was compiled by Miss Gertrude Thrift. This collection is deposited at the Public Record Office of Ireland, Dublin and was microfilmed by the Family History Library&nbsp; {{FHL|592949|film|disp=microfilm 592949 956}} and{{FHL|234649|title-id|disp=microfilm 596408 419}}. This material is indexed in the Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records and Keeper of State Records in Ireland, 55th Report pp. 69 90 and 57th Report pp. 325 420. Not all of the will abstracts are for the Prerogative Court.<br>  

William Henry Welply lived to be over ninety years of age and compiled an extensive collection of will abstracts. Copies of his work appear in various record offices. The Representative Church Body Library, Dublin has a collection of many of these will abstracts which cover much of Ireland. The Whelply will abstracts are indexed in Analecta Hibernica Vol. 17.  

The abstracts from this collection relating only to families living in the Cork area were printed and published in the Albert E. Casey Collection. Volume fourteen of this fifteen volume set contains the will abstracts for counties Cork and Kerry and covers the entire time period the Prerogative Court was in existence (1536 1857). The wills are indexed by every name mentioned in the abstract at the end of volume fourteen. However, the index is defective and some entries are missing. The extracts in this collection are typewritten and the printing reduced standard 8 1/2 x 11 pages to accommodate printing four to a single page. Thus, the printing in these volumes is very small and may require the use of a reading glass. This collection (Casey's) was microfilmed by the Family History Library and volume 14 is on Family History Library {{FHL|259184|title-id|disp=microfilm 823809 item 2}}. Again, this material was printed only for the Cork area families, the remaining extracts were not published in this work.  

Abstracts of 195 Prerogative wills were compiled by Dr. Lorton Wilson of Burnham on sea, Somerset. This collection is on microfilm at the National Library of Ireland (Ref. N.2880 P.1990). Wills of Irish persons proved in England also appear in this collection. This collection has not been microfilmed by the Family History Library.<br>  

Research use: Shows relationship and supplements information found in church records.  Extremely valuable in providing pedigree connections.