This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/0EB.2ACE/432 Message Board Post: I'd like to know if the original probate papers/files for Barnstable County still exist and if they are accessible to the public. I find nothing at all on the subject on the internet and there seems not to be an official page for the Barnstable Co. Probate Court. I know the volumes of transcribed probate material are available. Thanks for any help! Doug [email protected]

Doug, Merry Christmas and yes! The Probate and Family court clerks office is open in the old village of Barnstable (the court house annex) and there is a computer index of more modern cases and a card catalog of ancient cases. http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/barnprobmain.html Most probate records were saved from the courthouse fire of 18?? We have extracted many of these records in summary and detail form and you can ask to see any of the old papers by case number. The clerks are very helpful. The copy machine is expensive (about 25 cents per page when I was there last) and of course the old documents cannot leave the room! Enjoy reading those old wills, letters of administration, adoptions, inventories, etc. Just downstairs is the Registry of Deeds with all the land records with grantor/grantee indexes, wonderful maps. Most land records burned in the fire and had to be reconstituted after http://www.bcrd.co.barnstable.ma.us/ Regards, Former haunter of the courthouse Ray Sears -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2005 9:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [MaBarnstable] accessibility of estate files This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/0EB.2ACE/432 Message Board Post: I'd like to know if the original probate papers/files for Barnstable County still exist and if they are accessible to the public. I find nothing at all on the subject on the internet and there seems not to be an official page for the Barnstable Co. Probate Court. I know the volumes of transcribed probate material are available. Thanks for any help! Doug [email protected]