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.

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.)

Following a brief hiatus, we are delighted to release the newest volume in V. L. Skinner, Jr.'s popular series of transcriptions of 17th-century Maryland probate records. Volume IX of Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland (1700Γ 1703) marks the first one in the series whose coverage is confined solely to the 18th century. consists of abstracts of the records for the period 1700 to 1703. Mr. Skinner has combed through administration, bond, will, inventory, administration accounts, and final balance entries to produce this collection. 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.

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, MarylandΓ s colonial capital. Volume VI in this series consists of abstracts of Prerogative Court of Maryland records for the period 1686-1689 and 1692-1693. (The abstracts are arranged in chronological order 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 the details of bequests, names of slaves, appraisers, and more. Volume VIrefers to about 8,000 17th-century Marylanders whose existence and activities would otherwise remain buried in some rich but very off-the-beaten-track records.

Volume XI of this series contains abstracts of the records for 1703-1704 and 1707-1709, as found in Libers 20 and 21 of the records of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. As such, it overlaps chronologically with Volume X, which deals with the years 1704-1707. 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 roughly 8,000 residents.

This is the tenth volume of "Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland (1704-1707)," by V. L. Skinner. Volume X consists of abstracts of the records for the period 1704 to 1707. Mr. Skinner has combed through administration, bond, will, inventory, administration account, and final balance entries to produce this collection. 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 roughly 7,000 residents of the Province of Maryland between 1704 and 1707.