Thursday, February 24, 2011

Abstracts of theTestamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland

We have just received the latest books in the Abstracts of the Testamentary Proceedings of the Prerogative Court of Maryland series.  We now have all 28 volumes which cover the time period of 1658 through 1775.

The Prerogative Court was the focal point for probate in colonial Maryland.  All probate matters went directly to this court in Annapolis.  Eventually, probate was delegated to several county courts, however, many documents related to probate were filed at the Prerogative Court and not in the county.

The author of these books, Mr. V.L. Skinner has arranged the abstracts in chronological order by court session.  He gives the names of the principals (testators, heirs, witnesses, administrators, etc).  In many cases, he has included the details of the bequests, names of slaves, and appraisers.

The first 15 volumes can be found at R GEN 929.3752 SKI.
Volume 16 - 28 R GEN 929.3752 SKI can be found in the "New Book" section of the Genealogy area.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Forced Laborers - Maryland Runaways 1770-1774

Thank you for being patient with me while I learn the “ins and outs” of Genealogy! Starting this week, the Genealogy Blog will come out on Thursdays.


We have received a new book that caught my attention due to the title: “Drinks Hard and Swears Much” White Maryland Runaways 1770-1774 by Joseph Lee Boyle.

Some colonists who came to America were indentured servants and laborers. Some of these people were criminals. The investors who underwrote the transportation of these forced laborers placed ads in newspapers offering rewards for the apprehension of runaways and/or notices of their capture. This book is a compilation of these ads. Mr. Boyle identifies more than 2,000 individuals in these ads. The ads describe the person’s physical attributes, the items of clothing they were wearing at the time they ran away, and how much the reward was.

At this time it can be found in the New Genealogy section R GEN 929.3752 BOY

Saturday, February 5, 2011

New Items Received in January 2011

Hi! This is Susan Kusterbeck, the new Genealogy Librarian. I would like to thank you for patience in waiting for this blog.  Our weather has not helped me get this out on time.  I hope you all stayed safe and warm.

If you have any questions, you can contact me at 972.547.7343 or skusterbeck@mckinneytexas.org

Items Received in January 2011:

Raleigh Co, WV obituaries from The Raleigh Register 1916-1919
Barbour Co, VA (now WV) birth records 1854-1859
Fayette Co, WV deaths 1866-1888; Mercer Co, WV marriage book I 1854-1901
Greenbrier Co, WV wills 1780-1865
Marion Co, TN county court minutes 1842-1847
Enumeration Districts and Justice precincts of Collin County, TX 1900-1930
Monroe Co, VA (now WV) wills 1799-1879
Enumeration of Confederate soldiers and widows for Montgomery Co, MS 1907
Dr. Joseph J. Hamlin’s account book (Asheboro, NC)
Marriage Records of the City of Fredericksburg and of Orange, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties, VA 1722-1850
Abstracts from the Port Tobacco Times and Charles County Advertiser 1844-1854, 1870-75, 1885-93 Ahijah and the Covington Blues (Company B Ohio)
Abstracts of Loudoun County Virginia Register of Free Negroes 1844-1861
Superior Court of Law & Equity, Mero District of Tennessee, 1803-1805
Davidson County Tennessee Deed Books T and W 1829-1835
Davidson County, Tennessee, deed book "P" : personal property deeds, 15 November 1821-13 February 1829
The Paradise of Texas Clarksville and Red River County 1846-1860
Military annals of Carroll County, MS: [expanded]
22nd Regiment Mississippi Infantry, C.S.A.
Featherston's/Posey's/Harris' Mississippi brigade: Army of Northern Virginia, a muster listing
Griffith's/Barksdale's/Humphreys' Mississippi brigade: Army of Northern Virginia, a muster listing
Davis' Mississippi brigade: Army of Northern Virginia, a muster listing
Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Lincoln County, 1814-1817
Christian Co, KY tax records 1797-1799 and 1800-1803
Christian Co, KY will books 1797-1828
Calloway Co, KY wills and administrations vol. 3
Records of Egypt Reformed Church, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania 1734-1834