Finding Aid Search

Title

New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (New York) record of wills proved at New York

Series Number

J2041

Summary

This series consists of microfilm copies of two volumes of recorded wills and probates (summary of proceedings to determine authenticity of will) made from originals held in the New York County Clerk's Office.

Creator

• New York (State). Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Record of funds and cases transferred to the Court of Chancery

Series Number

J0302

Summary

Chapter 70 of the Laws of 1822 abolished the Court of Probates and transferred all appeals, suits, judgments, and decrees pending in that court to the Court of Chancery. This series consists of records that document such transfers. The three items included in this series are the receipt of Gerrit W. Lansing (last judge of the Court of Probates) for funds and records transferred, Lansing's accounts with the Court of Probates, and a listing of cases transferred.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Court of Probates administration bonds

Series Number

J0034

Summary

These volumes contain bonds of persons appointed by the State Court of Probates to administer and settle the estate of a decedent. Each bond states the name of three obligors, the amount and condition of the bond, the names of the administrator and two sureties, and the signatures of the obligors.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Court of Probates record of estate inventories

Series Number

J2301

Summary

This series consists of a microfilm copy of one volume of inventories of estates recorded by the clerk of the Court of Probates.

Creator

• New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Record of wills and probates

Series Number

J0043

Summary

This series consists of wills, grants of administration, and (prior to ca. 1710) inventories and accounts of decedent estates. These documents were recorded and maintained by New York Colony's Prerogative Court and then by the State Court of Probates. Many of the wills were made by widows; several executors were women; some wills bequeathed slaves; and Dutch wills sometimes had English translations. Volumes before 1700 also include other records such as governor, council, and criminal proceedings; marriage licenses, and coroner's inquests.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

Microfilm is not available for inter-library loan or reproduction for any purpose.

Title

Index to records of wills and probates

Series Number

J2043

Summary

This series consists of a name index to testators in series J0043-92, Record of Wills and Probates from the Prerogative and later Probate Courts, and J1043-92, New York County Surrogate Court Record of Wills and Probates. Information includes last and first names of the testator; year, month, and day the will was proved or recorded and the liber and page reference. Volumes for letters I-L are missing.

Creator

• New York (State). Surrogate's Court (New York County)

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Court of Probates bonds of administrators

Series Number

J1033

Summary

Administrators of estates were required to give bond for the good performance of their duties, including making an inventory of the personal property of deceased, and to render and account to the court. This series consists of bonds relating to estates in New York Province and New York State.

Creator

• New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

List of wills and other documents delivered by the judge of the Court of Probates to the Surrogate of the City and County of New York

Series Number

J1042

Summary

This series consists of a rough chronological list of wills relating to estates in the First Senatorial District (New York and adjacent counties) that were transferred to the New York County Surrogate's Court when the Court of Probates moved to Albany in 1799. Information include name of testator, residence, and date of will. At the end of the main list are other lists of documents transferred, such as inventories, accounts of administrators, etc.

Creator

• New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Record of wills and probates

Series Number

J1043

Summary

The wills recorded in these volumes were proved (i.e. determined by testimony of witnesses to be authentic) before and admitted to probate by the Surrogate judge for New York County. Each will provides for the disposition of the testator's real and personal property and designates an executor or executrix. The will is accompanied by a record of the proof of will and admission to probate.

Creator

• New York (State). Surrogate's Court (New York County)

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Court of Probates administration papers

Series Number

J0033

Summary

This series consists of documents relating to the administration of estates that were filed with or issued by the provincial Prerogative Court or the State Court of Probates. Each file may contain letters of administration; performance bonds of administrators and executors; renunciations of executorships; accounts of administrators and executors; caveats preventing the probating of a will or appointment of an administrator; wills; property inventories; testimony; affidavits; depositions; appeals from county Surrogate's Courts; petitions; quietuses removing executors; and other court orders.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Surrogate Court (New York County) probated wills

Series Number

J1038

Summary

This series consists of probated wills filed and maintained by the clerk of the Surrogate Court (New York County). Each will provides for the disposition of the testator's real and personal property and designates an executor. Wills are signed and witnessed by three persons. The name of the testator and date of the will are noted on the reverse. Records are restricted due to fragility.

Creator

• New York (State). Surrogate's Court (New York County)

Access Restrictions

Restricted due to fragility. Use with supervision of archivist.

Title

New York City Mayor's Court minutes of proceedings in proof of wills

Series Number

J2032

Summary

The Mayor's Court of New York City functioned as the court of common pleas for New York City and County. Between 1786 and 1829 courts of common pleas could prove and record wills transferring real property, and also wills whose witnesses were unable to appear in court to testify. This volume contains minutes of proceedings in proof of wills. Each entry provides the name and address of the decedent in the case title and then summarizes the proceedings.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Estate inventories

Series Number

J1301

Summary

This series consists of microfilm copies of original inventories of estates. These original inventories of estates were filed in New York City but relate to estates in many parts of the province.

Creator

• New York (Colony). Prerogative Court

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Probated wills

Series Number

J0038

Summary

This series consists of wills probated with the provincial secretary, the Prerogative Court, or the State Court of Probates. Some wills include a letter of administration or a property inventory. Wills typically include the dates the will was executed, proved, and probated; names of the testator, witnesses to the will, heirs, and executor; testator's occupation; how the estate was to be divided; and proceedings for how the will was proved.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Exemplifications of wills, letters testamentary, and letters of administration

Series Number

J0039

Summary

This volume contains exemplifications, or official transcripts admissible as evidence, of wills, codicils to wills, letters testamentary granted to the executor of a will, and letters of administration granted to the administrator of an estate (in the event there was no will). A few of the wills registered by the Court of Probates were dated during or before the Revolutionary War.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Letters of administration

Series Number

J0032

Summary

This series consists of letters of administration of estates of New York residents who died out-of-state, or non-residents who died in the state. Most of the letters are for estates of persons who died intestate (without a will). Microfilm copy covers the period 1778-1797 only.

Creator

• New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Title

Inventory of wills, administration papers and inventories transferred from the Secretary of State to the Court of Probates

Series Number

J0036

Summary

This series consists of one volume, containing an inventory of the records of the provincial (colonial) Prerogative Court transferred from the Secretary of State to the Court of Probates. The inventory is divided into five sections: wills probated before the Revolution in 1776; wills probated behind British lines by the provincial Prerogative Court between 1776 and 1783; inventories and accounts exhibited before 1776; inventories and accounts exhibited behind British lines between 1776 and 1783; and administration granted before 1776.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Title

Orders and decrees

Series Number

J0208

Summary

This series consists of orders and decrees issued by the judge of the Court of Probates. Examples include decrees and orders reversing or sustaining the decision of a surrogate's court, appointing or dismissing a guardian or an administrator, requiring the appearance of an individual before the court, setting a hearing date, requiring an administrator to pay money to the court or to exhibit his accounts, distributing the estate of a decedent, and requiring the sale of a decedent's property.

Creator

• New York (State). Court of Probates

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.