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 XIII contains abstracts of records for the period 1712 to 1716, as found in parts of Libers 22 and 23. 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 7,000 residents of the Province of Maryland during the period cited in the title.

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, MarylandΓ s colonial capital. The Prerogative Court was also the colonyΓ s court for equity casesΓ 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.

The Prerogative Court was the focal point for probate in colonial Maryland. A judge and various clerks staffed the court. All matters of probate went directly to the Prerogative Court, which was located in Annapolis, Maryland's colonial capital. 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. (Beginning in 1674, inventories and accounts were recorded in a separate series.)

Genealogist V. L. Skinner, Jr., resumes his transcriptions of 17th-century Maryland probate records with the fifth volume of his series, Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. This volume abstracts testamentary proceedings for the years 1682Γ 1686.

Volume XV of this series consists of abstracts of the records for the period 1719-1721, as found in Liber 24 and part of 25. 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 between 7,500 and 8,000 residents of the Province of Maryland during the first quarter of the 18th century.

Volume XIV contains abstracts of the records for the years 1716 to 1719, as found in the bulk of Liber 23. 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 9,000 residents.