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Abstracts of the Testamentary
Proceedings of the Prerogative Court
of Maryland—Volume XI: 1703-1704,
1707-1709—Libers 20, 21 (pp. 1-206)
By V. L. Skinner, Jr.; Originally
printed in 2007; Reprinted
2008; 5.5x8.5; 292
pp; softbound. Order from
the publisher at: Clearfield
Company, Inc., 3600 Clipper
Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore,
MD 21211; or www.
genealogical.com; CF9973;
ISBN: 9780806353579; $29.50
plus $4.00 p&h.
Readers of this excellent
series know that the Prerogative
Court was the focal point for probate in colonial
Maryland. All matters of probate went directly to
the Prerogative Court, which was located in Annapolis,
Maryland’s colonial capital. The following
documents were filed with the court: administration,
bond, will, inventory, administration accounts, and
final balances. 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. It should be noted that the Prerogative
Court was also the colony’s court for equity
cases—resolution of disputes over the settlement and
distribution of an estate.
Volume XI contains abstracts of the records for
1703-1704 and 1707-1709, as found in Libers 20 and
21. As such, it overlaps chronologically with Volume
X, which deals with the years 1704-1707. 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. In all, this
volume refers to roughly 8,000 residents.
Abstracts of the Testamentary
Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of
Maryland—Volume XII: 1709-1712—Libers:
21 (pp. 207-347), 22 (pp. 1-147)
By V. L. Skinner, Jr.; 2008; 5.5x8.5; 292 pp; softbound.
Order from the publisher at: Clearfield Company,
Inc., 3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore,
MD 21211; or www.genealogical.com; CF9994;
ISBN: 9780806353654; $29.50 plus $4.00 p&h.
Readers of this excellent series know that the
Prerogative Court was the focal point for probate
in colonial Maryland. All
matters of probate went directly
to the Prerogative
Court, which was located in
Annapolis, Maryland’s colonial
capital. The Prerogative
Court was also the colony’s
court for equity cases—resolution
of disputes over the
settlement and distribution
of an estate. Volume XII contains
abstracts of the records
for the period 1709 to 1712, as
found in Libers 21 and 22. Mr. Skinner has combed
through administration, bond, will, inventory, administration
account, and final balance entries for
these years. 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. This volume refers to more than 7,500
residents.
Abstracts of the Testamentary
Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of
Maryland—Volume XVI: 1721-1724—Libers:
25 (pp. 88-135), 26, 27 (pp. 1-140)
By V. L. Skinner, Jr.; 2008;
5.5x8.5; 300 pp; softbound.
Order from the publisher
at: Clearfield Company, Inc.,
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite
260, Baltimore, MD 21211;
or www.genealogical.com;
CF9951; ISBN: 9780806353944;
$29.50 plus $4.00 p&h.
The Prerogative Court was
the focal point for probate in
colonial Maryland. All matters
of probate went directly
to the Prerogative Court, which was located in Annapolis,
Maryland’s colonial capital. The Prerogative
Court was also the colony’s court for equity cases—
resolution of disputes over the settlement and distribution
of an estate.
Following is a representative abstract from these
volumes:
Summons to Samuell Heigh & his wife executrix
of John Israell (BA) to show cause why
they don’t take LoA on his estate, or grant administration
to another on behalf of the children.
Date: 10 November 1724.
Ja n ua ry/Fe b r u a r y 2009 Ev e r t o n’s Ge n e a l o g i c a l He l p e r © 135