Barbados Probate Records

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Probate Records

Barbados Probate Records

While a part of the British Empire, some residents of Barbados 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.

Proved in Barbados

The earliest Barbados wills have been published:

• Sanders, Joanne McRee . Barbados Wills and Administrations Vol. I: 1639-1680. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1979. Online as part of Caribbean, English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800 collection at Ancestry ($). FS Catalog book 972.981 P2s v. 1.
• Sanders, Joanne McRee . Barbados Records: Wills Vol. II: 1681-1700. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1980. Online as part of Caribbean, English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800 collection at Ancestry ($). FS Catalog book 972.981 P2s v. 2.
• Sanders, Joanne McRee . Barbados Records: Wills Vol. III: 1701-1725. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1981. Online as part of Caribbean, English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800 collection at Ancestry ($). FS Catalog book 972.981 P2s v. 3.

Proved in London

Hundreds of Barbados wills were proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London:

1628-1699

188

1700-1799

215

1800-1858

131

A complete list of Barbados wills proved in London was published in Caribbeana, which is available for free online - see Barbados Periodicals for access.

Some Barbados 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.

• 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 Ancestry ($).
• Coldham, Peter Wilson. English Estates of American Colonists: American Wills and Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1700-1799. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Digital version of 1991 reprint available at Ancestry ($).
• 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 Ancestry ($).
• Coldham, Peter Wilson. American Wills & Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1610-1857. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1989. FS Library 942 P27c; digital version at Ancestry ($).
• Coldham, Peter Wilson. American Wills Proved in London, 1611-1775. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. FS Library 973 P27ca; digital version at Ancestry ($).
• Coldham, Peter Wilson. North American Wills Registered in London, 1611-1857. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007. FS Library 942 P27c 2007

If you find a will abstact that interests you in Coldham's books, 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 "Barbados."
• PCC Wills Index and Images (1384-1858), courtesy: The Genealogist. (in progress)

Caribbeana also carried a series of articles identifying PCC administrations:

• 1630-1681 - 'Administrations (P.C.C.) relating to West Indians,' 1630-1655: Vol. 5 (1919):83-86; 1656-1658: Vol. 5 (1919):202-208; 1658/9-1666: Vol. 5 (1919):217-219; 1667-1681: Vol. 6 (1919):44-50. Digitised by dLOC - free. Barbados, Jamaica, Antigua, Surinam, St. Christopher, Nevis.

Proved in Edinburgh

The wills of some Barbados residents were proved in Edinburgh, Scotland, see:

• Dobson, David. Scottish-American Wills, 1650-1900. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1991. FS Library 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

Proved in Philadelphia

• Abstract of Will of James Metcalfe, of the Island of Barbadoes, dated 11 June 1697, proved at Barbadoes 26 October 1697, proved at Philadelphia 9 January 1698/1699. Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Will Book A, Number 188. Published in Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan. 1906):19-20. Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library.