Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland. Volume I

This volume consists of abstracts of Prerogative Court of Maryland records for the period 1658 to 1674. Mr. Skinner has combed through administration bond will inventory administration account and final balance entries to produce this collection. The abstracts are arranged in chronological order by court session and in every instance they give the names of the principals (testators heirs witnesses administrators and so forth). In many cases we also learn the details of bequests names of slaves appraisers and more. In all Mr. Skinner identifies some 6000 17th-century Marylanders whose existence and activities would otherwise remain hidden in some rich but very obscure records.