Hi Erin, When a person's will is accepted into probate by the appropriate court, a copy is recorded in a bound will book, written entirely, of course, in the clerk's handwriting. This is the "official recorded" version. For example, depending on the period of interest, in North Carolina, the original will was filed in a file, and eventually was accessioned by the North Carolina State Archives. Other states have different preservation procedures, and some county courthouses still hold original wills; "it depends." Duplicate copies might be made by the county clerk (and labeled as "a true copy" by him) for administrators or executors or for anyone else with a valid reason for needing a copy. Colonies and states had and have different procedures depending upon the law in effect at the time. When looking for an original will to practice transcribing skills, it is necessary to become familiar with procedures in the geographical locale of interest. Some original wills are held by state archives, some are held by county archives, some are held by historical societies, and some are held privately. Kathy On 2/9/2013 5:39 PM, Erin J wrote: > Help, > I'm looking for a will to transcribe for practice. This is a basic beginning question. I've found alot of wills on Family Search and some other County sites. > > They all seem to be taken from volumes. I thought that wills were individual documents. > > Are the wills in the volumes held by the Counties, copies of the originals? or duplicate copies and the family has the original? > > I'm not sure where to go to ask this questions. It just seems odd to me that they are all in volumes? > > If this is a "it depends" question, please let me know where to find more information on Wills. > > Thank you, > > > Erin > The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition to professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this list. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Good point, Kathy, about different states having different procedures. I was speaking with my feet in Pennsylvania. The county genealogist that I had the exchange with didn't know why I wanted to see the original since the bound copy is the official legal copy. If you are practicing transcribing skills, it shouldn't matter too much whether it is original or a hand-written transcription. Gaining experience in a wide variety of hands over a couple of centuries of time would be helpful in seeing the differences and similarities in handwriting standards and terminology. Best, Elissa Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL www.PowellGenealogy.com www.GRIPitt.org registration opens 7 Feb 2013 CG, Certified Genealogist, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are Service Marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluations by the Board and the board name is a trademark registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. > -----Original Message----- > From: On Behalf Of Kathy Gunter Sullivan, CG > Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 6:12 PM > > When a person's will is accepted into probate by the appropriate court, a copy is recorded > in a bound will book, written entirely, of course, in the clerk's handwriting. This is the > "official recorded" > version. For example, depending on the period of interest, in North Carolina, the original > will was filed in a file, and eventually was accessioned by the North Carolina State > Archives. Other states have different preservation procedures, and some county > courthouses still hold original wills; "it depends." Duplicate copies might be made by the > county clerk (and labeled as "a true copy" by him) for administrators or executors or for > anyone else with a valid reason for needing a copy. > > Colonies and states had and have different procedures depending upon the law in effect at > the time. When looking for an original will to practice transcribing skills, it is necessary to > become familiar with procedures in the geographical locale of interest. Some original wills > are held by state archives, some are held by county archives, some are held by historical > societies, and some are held privately. > > Kathy >

One thing I've noted in comparing the original loose will with the recorded copy is that the clerk often corrected spelling and grammar, especially if the original was a holographic will. One of my ancestors had such a will, and made a bequest in the original to "Loues" which I know from other records was Louisa/Louise. The recorded copy (which is what was used in published abstracts) clearly says "Loves" so many online trees add a child "Loves." I also have at least two wills where the recorded copy skipped a phrase of a bequest to one child that is in the original. Of course, all the published abstracts omit that child, and lots of theories have evolved over the years as to how the family relates--- all solved with a simple examination of the original will. One such will is in my personal ancestry. The other was for a client, that the original will broke down a brick wall where they had been unable to identify the parents of an ancestor. Rick Saunders -----Original Message----- From: transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2013 4:56 PM To: Transitional-Genealogists-Forum@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [TGF] Will questions <snip>The county genealogist that I had the exchange with didn't know why I wanted to see the original since the bound copy is the official legal copy.<snip>

Thank you Everyone,   I've learned alot here.  I'm glad I asked the questions.   Now off to transcribing the transcription of the will !!   Erin