---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Douglas Cummins <dcumyns@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Oct 8, 2013 at 11:08 AM Subject: [MSATTALA] Lesser Known Probate Records To: "msattala@rootsweb.com" <msattala@rootsweb.com> Lesser Known Probate Records. Part One, by Robert Barnes This article discusses less common sources of probate, what they do, and how they help the researcher. In their pursuit of probate sources, I urge researchers to be methodical, to keep a list of all sources checked, and to remember that a record may be found in an adjacent political subdivision. Sometimes clues are found where they are least expected, as in the case of some of the indentures listed in Part Two of this article. Original Records Researchers should be aware that when probate records, such as Administration Accounts, Inventories, Wills, etc., were taken to the county court they would be copied into large register volumes, or libers, but the original records were kept on file. When these documents were copied, mistakes in spelling and punctuation could often occur. When abstracters prepared materials for publication, even more mistakes might occur. The careful researcher should check these original records against subsequent transcriptions. In Maryland, for example, the Prerogative Court has Wills, Original (Series S 540), for the years 1666 to 1777. Baltimore, Caroline, Cecil, Frederick, Prince George's, Queen Anne's, Somerset, and Talbot counties have Wills, Original, dated from the colonial period, overlapping the Prerogative Court. The Maryland State Archives has original Administration Accounts, Administration Bonds, Guardian Accounts, Guardian Bonds, Indentures, and Inventories, as well as Wills. Accounts of Sales Accounts of Sales are sales of the personal property of deceased persons. They may contain a more detailed list of his or her possessions than an actual inventory. Many times family members purchased some of the property of the decedent. When John Hignet's property was sold in 1822, George Hignet purchased an old gun for $1.50; Louisa and Mary Ann Hignet purchased feather beds, sheets, blankets, quilts and pillows for $11.00 and $10.00, respectively. Master John Hignet, Jr., purchased a small chest for 50¢, Louisa Hignet bought a trunk for $1.50, George Hignet paid $3.00 for a map of the United States, and Mary Ann Hignet bought a large chest for $1.50. When John McComesky's personal estate was sold in 1823, the first purchaser was Agnes McComesky, whose name is repeated later in the list. Administration Bonds These may show the possible value of the estate. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries there were few newspapers in which to publish obituaries; church records did not always contain burials of all parishioners, and most people did not leave wills, so the administration bond might be the first permanent record of a death. After someone died, his executor or administrator would come into court, with two sureties, and post a bond that they would well and faithfully administer the estate of the decedent. They were required to file the first account within six months. Many times they were late and would be summoned to show cause why they were late. They would then be granted an extension. The two bondsmen or sureties promised that if the accountant did not carry out his or her duties, they would be responsible. If the wife (or widow) was the executrix or administratrix, the bondsmen were usually her relatives. If two executors were named in the will, one was usually a relative of the testator and the other a relative of the spouse. Guardian Bonds When the decedent left one or more minor children, a guardian would be appointed, and he or she would post a bond affirming that he/she would submit reports every six months detailing how much money had been spent on each minor's clothing, education, and other expenses. The bond would state that the guardian would post a bond he would look after the care of the child and he would name the child and perhaps give an age. Annual Valuations Annual Valuations may be found in land records, orphans court proceedings, or as a separate series. These were recorded to ensure that the guardian would not squander the estate by cutting down trees, selling the lumber, and pocketing the proceeds. Jonathan Plowman died in August 1798, leaving an orphan Jantha. We the subscribers, Henry Brawn, Henry Epaugh, at the request of Zachariah Loveall, entered into the lands and plantation of Jantha Plowman, an orphan and viewed the same with the improvements, which consist of a dwelling house and kitchen, the latter wants a new roof, one old barn almost useless, one old corn house, a spring house wanting a new cover, a small house covered with straw, the land mostly cleared, an apple orchard of about 200 trees which appears to be old and not thriving, all which we estimate at the annual value of £13, and we agree that the guardian should be further permitted to clear three acres at the east end of the said plantation for keeping the houses and fences in repair. (Baltimore County Orphans Court Proceedings 4:30-31) The Attala County Web Site is in need of contributions of photographs, documents, family letters, diaries, etc. Submit your material to Everette Carr at: <a href="mailto:attaladirector@gmail.com">Attala Director</a> ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MSATTALA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- Jeannie God Bless God Speed kymonroe@rootsweb.com ancestraltrackers.org