The Mad Genealogist

There is much diversity in the publication and content of published probate records. Some probate records appear in book form, some in periodicals, and others in collected works. Even within a single publication the content and focus varies considerably. Printed probate records may concentrate on a period, a location, or a specific kind of probate record. Some printed works deal only with wills; others include administrations, and still others incorporate guardianship’s, dower rights, inventories, and related records. Some cover ecclesiastical areas, such as parishes, rather than governmental jurisdictions, such as counties. Some deal with the colonial period only, while others bridge long time spans.

The details included also differ from one publication to another; some offer extensive detail, while others provide little more than a name and reference. One compilation may merely list surnames and dates while another provides extracts or detailed abstracts. One may list only a date for each court-related action, while another cites dates, volume, and pages for complete citations. Some show more than one set of pagination references, with or without explanation. Some contain every-name indexes, while others are arranged in alphabetical order. Some may be organized only by location within a greater region or state, while others are arranged chronologically. Many contain two or more aspects of these organizational schemes.

The majority of published probate records are abstracts or indexes of originals in a particular jurisdiction. Very few published volumes include complete transcriptions of estate documents. As would be expected, published indexes are helpful guides to locating appropriate records.

Published probate records fall into three general categories: abstracts, extracts, and transcriptions. There are also printed probate indexes and research methodology sources.

Abstracts – Abstracts are abbreviated or abridged summaries of the original documents in which only data considered to be essential is copied. These usually contain brief synopses which may include all names, dates, places, and relationships identified within the record. Printed abstracts of original estate records may also name those persons who served as witnesses or acted in any capacity related to the proceedings. Many abstracts include some reference to the property location, and all denote the county in which the record was filed. Most, if not all, cite dates on which a will or probate proceeding was begun and/or registered.

Extracts – Extracts are verbatim transcriptions of portions of the original documents. Some published extracts are verbatim renderings of whole documents from the complete source.

Transcriptions – Transcriptions are complete printed copies of records, usually transcribed from original handwritten documents. Contemporary transcriptions may be (but are not always) verbatim copies.

Indexes – Indexes to wills and probate records are very beneficial because they can quickly lead the researcher to areas or individuals in question. Most Indexes can list some or all of the following: the names of those individuals who left wills, the volume in which the will was found among the court records, the first page number of the will, and the date the will was probated.

Research Methodology – The publications’ introductory remarks often include some details relating historical background, jurisdictional information, and pertinent laws for the relevant period. With the added advantage of computer-generated indexes, today’s printed sources can be superior to many created even two decades ago. Computer-generated indexes can also be riddled with typographical and transcription errors; therefore, these must be used with care.