The Prerogative Court was the focal point for probate in colonial Maryland, and it was also the colony’s court for equity cases--resolution of disputes over the settlement and distribution of an estate. From 1765 to 1767, most of the entries for the docket involve situations where the personal representative has not filed the proper documents. Beginning in April 1765, moreover, entries for accounts no longer furnish the administrator’s name. There is also a gap in these Testamentary Proceedings—from November 1, 1765 to May 23, 1766.
This series of Prerogative Court transcripts is arranged, with a few exceptions, chronologically by court session. Volume XXXIV in the series refers to nearly 7,000 colonial inhabitants of the Province of Maryland. For the most part, the transcriptions state the names of the principals (testators, heirs, guardians, witnesses, and so forth), details of bequests, names of slaves, appraisers, and more.
See also the other volumes in this series:
Volume I: 1658-1674
Volume II: 1670-1674
Volume III: 1675-1677 and 1703-1704
Volume IV: 1677-1682 & 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: 1721-1724
Volume XVII: 1724-1727
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: 1744-1746
Volume XXV: 1746-1749
Volume XXVI: 1749-50, 1752-53
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 XXXV: 1767-1768
Volume XXXVI: 1768-1770
Volume XXXVII: 1770-1771
Volume XXXVIII: 1771-1772