Probate Records
Quick Summary
Possible Direct Evidence
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Person's death date
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Names of family members
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Family relationships
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Names of children’s spouses
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Residence
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Adoption or guardianship of minors
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Value of land & property
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Occupation, religion, or military service
Possible Indirect Evidence
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Estimated date of death – between date of the will and date of probate (usually closer to probate date)
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Names of Executors, witnesses, etc. might be a relative
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Are other locations mentioned? It may be a prior or family residence.
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If a grandchild inherits something, the parent might be deceased or a single mother.
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If probate records include a list of items sold or accounts settled, the people involved may be the wife, children, etc.
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Negative evidence – i.e., the lack of an heir named. Caution: this can be for multiple reasons. Elder sons and married daughters might be omitted, having already received something.
Research Tips & Where to Find Probate Records
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Prior to 1900, estates were probated for about 25% of heads of household, so almost 50% of the population is listed in a will. Wills were more common in rural areas. (From the FS Wiki)
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The wife in a will may not be the mother of all the children named.
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Terms of relationship weren’t always literal, ex. infant=minor, cousin=nephew or other relation, children may be step-children
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If minors were mentioned, the estate may not be settled until after they reached adulthood.
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A signature, if original, can help to match the individual with other records
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If an heir isn’t mentioned or receives little, check earlier tax & land records for a property transfer.
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In an intestate case, the distribution records can be very beneficial – it lists property each person received and possibly their residence. Those people were often heirs or other relatives.
Where to Find Them:
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Ancestry Database Catalog: type [name of state] and “probate” or “will” or “estate”
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FamilySearch Historical Records: type “probate” in “Find a collection”
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FamilySearch Catalog: search on the county level