Search Maryland, Index To Colonial Probate Records, 1634-1777

Each record includes a transcript and original image. The amount of detail in each record can vary, but the records usually include a combination of the following information:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Year
• Book type
• Book
• Folio
• County

The Maryland, Index To Colonial Probate Records, 1634-1777 are made up of two categories, Prerogative Court records, and County records.

Preceding the implementation of the first Maryland State Constitution in 1777, two sets of probate records were maintained, probate business was conducted at the capital by the central agency which, for most of the Colonial period, was known as the Prerogative Court.

The Commissary General was the presiding officer of the court and a Deputy Commissary was then appointed for each county. The Deputy Commissary recorded each probate record that was brought into their office, periodically they would send the papers filed in their office to the Prerogative Court where they would be recorded again.

The Prerogative Court was abolished in 1777, probate matters have since been handled at count level by the Register of Wills and Orphans Court. No central probate recording office has functioned since the adoption of the first State Constitution.