Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland, Volume XXXIV - Historical Genealogy Research & Family History Records for Ancestry Research

Libers 41 (pp. 194-end), 42 (pp. 1-173), 1765-1767

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). 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.

Vernon L. Skinner, Jr.

2012, paper, 300 pp.

ISBN: 9780806355627

102-9510