Sign up for Genealogy Pointers »

Genealogist V. L. Skinner, Jr., resumes his transcriptions of 17th-century Maryland probate records with the third volume of his series, Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. The first volume in Mr. Skinner's series, released in 2004 and covering the period 1658-1674, is transcribed from Libers 1A-1F, 2, 3, and 4A-4C at the Maryland State Archives. Volume II, covering 1670 to 1674 and based on Libers 5 and 6, overlaps chronologically with the previous book. This volume covers the periods 1675 to 1677 and 1703 to 1704 and is based on Libers 7, 8A, 8B, and 9A (1-371). This volume, the third in the series, spans the period 1675-1677 and 1703-1704, and is based on Libers 7, 8A, 8B, and 9A (1-371). Volume IV covers the years 1677-1682 and 1702-1704 and is transcribed from Libers 9A (372-524), 9B, 10, 11, 12A and 12B. Volume V covers the years 1682-1686, as found in Liber 13 (1-432). Volume VI covers the years 1686-1689 and 1692-1693, and is based on Libers 13 (433-519), 14, 14A, and 15A. Volume VII consists of abstracts of the records for the period 1693-1697 and completes Libers 15 and 16.

The Prerogative Court was the focal point for probate for colonial Maryland. A judge and various clerks staffed the court. All matters of probate went directly to the Prerogative Court, which was located in Annapolis, Maryland's colonial capital. Eventually, administration of probate was delegated to the several county courts; however, many documents related to probate continued to be filed at the Prerogative Court and not in the corresponding county. It should be noted that the Prerogative Court was also the colony's court for equity cases (resolution of disputes over the settlement and distribution of an estate).

Volume III contains abstracts of records of the Prerogative Court of Maryland for the period 1675 to 1677 as well as some inventories for 1703 to 1704. (Beginning in 1674, inventories and accounts were recorded in a separate series.) Mr. Skinner has combed through administration, bond, will, inventory, administration account, and final balance entries to produce this collection. The abstracts are arranged in chronological order by court session. In every instance, they give the names of the principals (testators, heirs, witnesses, administrators, and so forth). In many cases we also learn the details of bequests, names of slaves, appraisers, and more. In all, what we have here are probate references to over 6,500 17th-century Marylanders whose existence and activities would otherwise remain hidden in some rich but very obscure records.

See also the other volumes in this series:
Volume I: 1658-1674
Volume II: 1670-1674
Volume IV: 1677-1682 and 1702-1704
Volume V: 1682-1686
Volume VI: 1686-1689 and 1692-1693
Volume VII: 1693-1697
Volume VIII: 1697-1700
Volume IX: 1700-1703
Volume X: 1704-1707
Volume XI: 1703-1704, 1708-1709
Volume XII: 1709-1712
Volume XIII: 1712-1716
Volume XIV 1716-1719
Volume XV: 1719-1721
Volume XVI: 1716-1719
Volume XVII: 1716-1719
Volume XVIII: 1727-1730
Volume XIX: 1730-1734
Volume XX: 1734-1736
Volume XXI: 1736-1739
Volume XXII: 1739-1741
Volume XXIII: 1741-1744
Volume XXIV: 1744-46
Volume XXIV: 1744-46
Volume XXV: 1746-1749
Volume XXVI: 1749-1750
Volume XXVII: 1753, 1750-1751
Volume XXVIII: 1751-1752, 1755
Volume XXIX: 1755-1758
Volume XXX: 1758-1761
Volume XXXI: 1761-1762
Volume XXXII: 1762-1764
Volume XXXIII: 1764-1765
Volume XXXIV: 1765-1767
Volume XXXV: 1767-1768
Volume XXXVI: 1768-1770
Volume XXXVII: 1770-1771
Volume XXXVIII: 1771-1772