Liber 13 (pp. 1-432), 1682-1686
Genealogist V. L. Skinner, Jr., resumes his transcriptions of 17th-century Maryland probate records with the fifth volume of his series Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. 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).
This volume abstracts testamentary proceedings for the years 1682-1686. (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 5,000 17th-century Marylanders whose existence and activities would otherwise remain hidden in some rich but very obscure records.
Vernon L. Skinner, Jr.
(2006), 2007, paper, 279 pp.
ISBN: 9780806353005
102-9894
