INVENTORIES -1809 to 1923
Filed chronologically in small vertical filing drawers.
These records are kept in a basement vault and are only available
upon request.
Later inventories arranged according to the new system in
the estate file with all other papers relating to the will and
filed numerically with a "W" and numbers.
LETTERS OF ADMIMSTRATION
Volume 1: 1816 -1826
Volume A: 1826 -1846
LETTERS TESTAMENTARY AND OF ADMINISTRATION
Volume B: 1830 -1839
Volumes I-6: 1839 -1866
LETTERS TESTAMENTARY
Volume 7+ : 1866-1920+
LETTERS OF ADMIMSTRATION
Volume 7+: 1866 - I920+
INTESTATES
According to the new filing system started in 1924, LETTERS
OF ADMIMSTRATION from 1924 to date and all papers relating to
intestates, are filed numerically with numbers preceded by the
letter "A", from number A-8000. Some earlier papers (19I9 -1923)
were re-filed according to that system using the numbers 7421 to
7999. Current administration proceedings are indexed with the
letter "A" followed by a number and the last two digits of the
year in which the proceeding was filed with the Court.
INDEXES
There is an old index volume to WILLS - through Volume 34 (
1867); one to LettersTestamentary (throught Volume 10) and one to
Letters of Administration (through Volume 10).
The main index is a large volume kept on the main vault
table with the title INDEX TO WILLS AND PROCEEDINGS,1792 -1923.
Another is the INDEX OF INFANTS' ESTATES,1793 -1923 and the INDEX
TO INTESTATES' ESTATES FROM 1793-1923. Each index is one
volume.
From 1924 to the present, estates are indexed in a card
catalogue system containing testamentary and intestate estates,
voluntary administrations, miscellaneous filings and
guardianships, each category being indexed on a different color
card and arranged alphabetically by the last name of the decedent
or infant. The following color key will assist in determining the
type of proceeding:
DOWER BOOKS
Volume A: I810 -1827
Volume B: 1827 -1871
Each contains an index of wives' names.
DOWER PAPERS
1826 - 1881 are contained in two small vertical file
drawers.
EXECUTORS' AND ADMISTRATORS' ACCOUNTS
1827 - l 836: One volume with index in front.
MINUTES, ORDERS AND DECREES
Volumes 2a -17: 1832 -1876
PROOF OF WILLS {Continuation of above}
Volume 18 +
SURROGATE'S MINUTES{Conintuation of above}
Volume 20 +: 1878 - date.
ORDER FOR FINAL ACCOUNTING
Volume 1: 1874 -1893
Continued in volumes entitled: ORDERS FOR JU1DICIAL
SETTLEMENT,from 1893.
JUDICIAL SETTLEMENTS
Original papers from 1813 to 1930 are arranged by year,
alphabetically within each year in small vertical file
drawers.
RECORDS OF REAL ESTATE
Records pertaining to the sale of real estate left by
intestate.
Volume A (or 1 ) +: 1824 to date
REAL ESTATE PROCEEDINGS
Papers regarding sale of real estate of intestates.
1813-1928 are in 28 small verticle file drawers.
GUARDIANS LETTERS
4 Volumes: 1803 -1850
[In Volumes 1 and 2, 1803 -1829, the infant's parentage is
generally recorded.
LETTERS OF GUARDIANSHIP
Volume 1 +: from 1850.
ORDERS APPOINTING SPECIAL GUARDIANS - for infants under 21
Volume 1 + : from 1872
ORDERS/DECREES, GUARDIANS FOR INFANTS UNDER 14
Volume 1+ from 1876
ORDERS/DECREES, GUARDIANS FOR INFANTS OVER 14
Volume I+ from 1876
GUARDIANSHIPS OF INFANTS
Original papers form I821 to date.
From 1924 when the index card catalogue system was
inauguarated, all guardianships are arranged numerically with the
letter "I" preceding the numbers. Some papers from 1921to 1924,
were rearranged according to the new system beginning with the
number 2832.
Guardianships from 1924 are indexed in the same card
catalogue with the probates (testates) and administrations
(intestates). The guardianships proceedings from 1990 are now
indexed with the letter "G" followed by consecutive numbers
followed by the year of filing.