Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, Volume III - Historical Genealogy Records for Family Research & Ancestry Documentation | Perfect for Historians, Genealogists & Legal Researchers

Libers 7, 8A, 8B, 9A (pp. 1-371); 1675-1677 and 1703-1704

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. , released in 2004 and covering 1658 to 1674, was transcribed from Libers 1A-1F, 2, 3, and 4A-4C at the Maryland State Archives. , covering 1670 to 1674 and based on Libers 5 and 6, overlaps chronologically with the previous book. Mr. Skinner's abstracts testamentary proceedings for the years 1675-1677 and 1703-1704 and is based on Libers 7, 8A, 8B, and 9A (pp. 1-371).

The Prerogative Court was the focal point for probate in colonial Maryland. All matters of probate went directly to this Court, located in Maryland's colonial capital, first in St. Mary's City until 1694 and later in Annapolis. 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. 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.

Vernon L. Skinner, Jr.

(2006), 2008, paper, 282 pp.

ISBN: 9780806352893

102-9889