To all: I would like to know if someone can help me with court minutes terminology. I have been reviewing many of the court minutes from York Co., SC 1786 - 1797 just this last week, and found some interesting notes regarding the old Robert Patterson who wrote his will in 1775 and had his will recorded in 1791. Many of us have assumed over the months and years that Robert probably died around 1791 since his will was recorded then. However, there are several good reasons to believe he died before October of 1790, and possibly even well before then. Here's my question. What specifically does it mean to say that a will was "proven" in court? Does that mean that a will was written and witnessed and that proves it? Or does it mean that the person who wrote the will has died and then his will was "proven in court"? On Thursday, Oct. 14, 1790 (pg. 285 of the court records) states the following: "Will of Robert Patterson Senr deceased, formerly proven by James Dickey and Nathaniel Harrison before Samuel Swann Esqr, was ordered to be recorded." Robert Patterson wrote his will in 1775 and it was signed by James Dickey and Nathaniel Harrison, that we DO know. This record above proves that Robert Patterson was dead by October 1790 at the latest. However, at that point in time, it's obvious that the will HAD been proved, but HAD NOT be recorded officially. So what does it mean to "prove" a will? One major thing to remember, Betty (a fellow Patterson and Harrison researcher) has pointed out to me that the Nathaniel Harrison in question died in 1784, six years before this 1790 entry. And yet the 1790 entry says that Harrison proved the will. So, did Robert Patterson die by 1783 or 84? Yet, there were two Robert Pattersons in York Co., SC in the 1790 census, assumed to be the Robert in question, and also his son Robert Jr. I would appreciate any insight, please. Thanks. Wes Patterson http://wespatterson.com/gen.html