Unk Hiram's
Beginning Genealogy Lessons
Lesson #7

Lesson 7: Probates
I see you over there in the corner, looking all depressed and disappointed. You went to the courthouse. You did all your research the right way but your ancestor didn't leave a will. Now don't panic, don't sign up for those cyber quilting classes yet. There are still options for research. Your next big target should be probates.

If your ancestor didn't leave a will, if your ancestor was a farmer or a land owner or a shop keeper, the odds are that his "estate" went through probate. People who died without a will or owing money almost always went through probate. So let's take a look at what you can learn and where you should look.

Probate records are very similar to wills in that they deal with the disposition of a dead person's property. They differ from wills because they also address the person's debts.

So put together your research "who and where list" and march back down to the courthouse. (Yes, you can drive. Don't take me quite so literal) You will find a probate register listing the names of every estate that has gone through probate.

Just like with wills, I would suggest you get a photocopy of your ancestor's probate. The amount of information in a probate makes it a key tool in research material. This official legal document (primary source) will list all of your ancestor's children that were alive at the time, his spouse, everyone he owed money to, and anyone who owed him money. You might wonder why you care about who he owed money to and who owed him money. Lets be honest! If you are just doing a "Family Tree" with names and statistics you don't. If you are trying to do a family history so that you can understand these long-gone ancestors, then you want every scrap of info that you can find. Okay, enough philosphy, let's hit the hard facts.

Probates are a primary source for children and spouses. They frequently list brothers, sisters and other family explaining their relationship to your ancestor. It will give you his date of death and other vital data. Pay attention to the witnesses. Follow up with the people who they owed money to. See if any of the companies are still in business, if their records still exist.

Q & A Section:

1. If you cant find a will for your ancestor you should?
   
   1. Take up cyber-quilting.
      
   2. Look for a probate
      
   3. Write to your Congressman
      
   4. Shave your head and move to Maine.
      
   
   
2. A Probate is a primary source for your ancestor's ______________.
   
   1. Living children and spouse.
      
   2. Parents
      
   3. Wedding date and hair color
      
   4. Years residing in Maine.
      
   
   
3. Probate records are found in _______________.
   
   1. The newspaper office
      
   2. The most unusual places
      
   3. The County Courthouse
      
   4. Maine
      

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