Libers 29 (pp. 393-479), 30 (pp. 1-207); 1734-1736
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).
Compiler Vernon Skinner has just completed the twentieth volume in a series of books based upon this important source for Maryland genealogists, entitled Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. In compiling the series, Mr. Skinner has worked primarily from microfilm copies of the Prerogative Court records; however, he has also traveled to the Maryland State Archives to work directly with the original manuscripts in order to resolve problems associated with 18th-century handwriting or limitations of the microfilming process.
Following is a representative abstract from Volume XX:
"2 December 1735. Moses Rawlings and John Diskin administrators of Robert Lewett (PG) vs. George Buchanan and his wife Margaret and John Levett. Sheriff (PG) to summon defendants to show cause why they conceal effects of dec'd."
The series is arranged, volume by volume, chronologically by court session. Volume XX consists of abstracts for the period 1734-36, as found in the balance of Liber 29 and the first 207 pages of Liber 30 of the records. In all, the latest book in this remarkable series refers to an additional 7,500 inhabitants of the Province of Maryland in the years just prior to 1730. 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.
Vernon L. Skinner, Jr.
2009, paper, 290 pp.
ISBN: 9780806354224
102-9948
