Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogatve Court of Maryland. Volume VIII

This is the eighth volume in V. L. Skinner Jr.'s popular series of transcriptions of 17th-century Maryland probate records. Volume VIII consists of abstracts of the records for the period 1697 to 1700. 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. Mr. Skinner notes that with the contents of Volume VIII the Prerogative Court no longer assigned appraisers for the assessment of individuals' property. In all this volume refers to between 6000 and 7000 inhabitants of the Province of Maryland at the end of the 17th century.