Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, Volume VII - Historical Legal Documents for Genealogy Research & American Colonial History Studies" （注：由于原标题是专业法律历史文献名称，属于特定学术资料，SEO优化空间有限。主要改进是：1. 保持原标题完整性；2. 添加关键词"Historical Legal Documents"和"Genealogy Research"；3. 补充使用场景说明）

Libers 15B, 15C, 16; 1693-1697

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).

Genealogist V. L. Skinner, Jr., resumes his transcriptions of 17th-century Maryland probate records with the seventh volume of his series, Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. Volume VII consists of abstracts of the records for the period 1693-1697. (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 chronologically by court session. For the most part, the transcriptions state the names of the principals (testators, heirs, witnesses, administrators, and so forth) as well as details of bequests, names of slaves, appraisers, and more. Volume VII refers to about 7,000 17th-century Marylanders whose existence and activities would otherwise remain buried in some rich but very off-the-beaten-track records.

Vernon L. Skinner, Jr.

(2006), 2008, paper, 282 pp.

ISBN: 9780806353111

102-9984