Now that Ancestry.com has added the
Wills and Probates collections for each state - 170 million images in all - some researchers may be tempted to think "well, I can't find my ancestor's records, so he must not have had a will or a probate record."
The fact is that many of the state and county wills and probate collections are not complete, and may never be complete.
Each county (or probate district in some states) have an archived collection of original wills and probate records, from the county inception to the present day. But they are filed in a county courthouse, a local or state archive. A researcher has to determine where they are, and visit the courthouse or archive to obtain a copy of them, often for a fee.
Many of the state and county probate records up to a certain date (typically the 1900 to 1930 time frame) were microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah over the years, and the microfilms are available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, or can be borrowed for a fee and reviewed at a local FamilySearch Library. However, not every County archive was microfilmed, and some later 20th and 21st century records were not microfilmed.
Some of the microfilmed probate records have been digitized and are online in the FamilySearch Record Collections (
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list), but not all states are available yet, and not every microfilmed record for each county is available yet. For those probate records that are available on FamilySearch, very few have been indexed so that they can be searched. Most of the FamilySearch digitized probate records have to be browsed - finding a county, finding a probate index, finding indexed information about a probate record, and then finding the actual probate records on this "digital microfilm."
The Ancestry.com Wills and Probates collection for all 50 states were obtained from FamilySearch digitized images, and include some of the records available to FamilySearch, but do not include all of the FamilySearch microfilmed documents. They don't include the documents that FamilySearch has not microfilmed or digitized that can only be found at the courthouses and archives. However, Ancestry did name index their collection, which is a significant accomplishment. This collection will probably grow significantly over the years as more documents are digitized and indexed.
As an example, let me demonstrate how to determine the coverage of the Ancestry.com collection with respect to what is available on Family History Library microfilm and on FamilySearch digitized collections:
1) In the New Jersey, Wills and Probates, 1656-1999 collection on Ancestry.com, a user can browse this collection rather than search it. The screen below shows the "Browse this collection" list of Counties for New Jersey in the right-hand column:
I clicked on the "Sussex" item on the list and saw:
1) The list of "volumes" available on Ancestry in this database for Sussex County, New Jersey are highlighted in blue on the screen above. Here is a list of these "volumes:"
- Administration bonds, vol A, 1861-1866
- Administration bonds, vol B-C, 1866-1881
- Administration bonds, vol D-E, 1881-1896
- Administration bonds, vol F, 1896-1908
- Division, vol A, 1820-1836
- Division, vol B-C, 1835-1880
- Divisions of land proceedings, vol A-C, 1795-1922
- Estate Index, A-H
- Estate Index, I-Q
- Estate Index, R-Z
- Guardian and sale of lands, vol 1, 1861-1868
- Guardian bonds, vol B-C, 1868-1900
- Inventories, vol A-C, 1803-1819
- Inventories, vol D-F, 1819-1840
- Inventories, vol G-H, 1840-1856
- Inventories, vol I-K, 1856-1865
- Inventories, vol L-M, 1865-1876
- Inventories, vol N-O, 1876-1886
- Inventories, vol P-R, 1886-1896
- Inventories, vol S, 1896-1903
- Petitions and renunciations, vol A-B, 1871-1894
- Petitions and renunciations, vol C, 1894-1903
- Proceedings Index, vol 1-3
- Proceedings Index, vol 4-5
- Proceedings Index, vol 6-7
- Receipts, vol A-B, 1813-1858
- Receipts, Vol E-F, 1877-1886
- Receipts, vol G-H, 1886-1894
- Receipts, vol I-J, 1894-1901
- Sale of lands, vol B, 1878-1914; Assignees book, vol 1, 1867-1905
- Wills, Vol K-L, 1892-1900
That seems like a lot of "volumes" and some people would think "all of the available probate records must be there."
Now, a user could go to the FamilySearch Library Catalog (
https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/), input "Sussex, New Jersey" into the Place search, and then highlight the two items for Probate Records (two screens below):
2) Here is the list of the "volumes" that are available on microfilm (not including the book volumes listed):
- Administration bonds, v. A 1861-1866; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959489
- Administration bonds, v. B-C 1866-1881; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959490
- Administration bonds, v. D-E 1881-1896; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959491
- Administration bonds, v. F 1896-1908; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959492
- Division, v. A 1820-1836; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959497
- Division, v. B-C 1835-1880; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959498
- Divisions of land proceedings, vol. A-C, 1795-1922; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 961017
- Inventories, v. A-C 1803-1819; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960534
- Inventories, v. D-F 1819-1840; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960535
- Inventories, v. G-H 1840-1856; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960536
- Inventories, v. I-K 1856-1865; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960537
- Inventories, v. L-M 1865-1876; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960538
- Inventories, v. N-O 1876-1886; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959481
- Inventories, v. P-R 1886-1896; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959482
- Inventories, v. S 1896-1903; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959483
- Petitions & renunciations, v. A-B 1871-1894; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960517
- Petitions & renunciations, v. C 1894-1903; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960518
- Receipts, v. A-B 1813-1858; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959484
- Receipts, v. C-D 1858-1877; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959485
- Receipts, v. E-F 1877-1886; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959486
- Receipts, v. G-H 1886-1894; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959487
- Receipts, v. I-J 1894-1901; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 959488
- 1S - 111S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 563826
- 112S - 223S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 563827
- 224S - 333S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565475
- 334S - 451S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565476
- 452S - 578S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565477
- 579S - 706S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565478
- 707S - 826S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565479
- 827S - 951S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565480
- 952S - 1074S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565481
- 1075S - 1211S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565482
- 1212S - 1345S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565483
- 1346S - 1495S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565484
- 1496S - 1630S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565485
- 1631S - 1728S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565486
- 1729S - 1856S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565487
- 1857S - 2006S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565488
- 2007S - 2135S Family History Library; United States & Canada Film 565489
- 2136S - 2251S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565490
- 2252S - 2375S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565491
- 2376S - 2501S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565492
- 2502S - 2617S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565493
- 2618S - 2731S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565494
- 2732S - 2832S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565495
- 2833S - 2924S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565496
- 2925S - 3024S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565497
- 3025S - 3122S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565498
- 3123S - 3219S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 565499
- 3220S - 3310S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566000
- 3311S - 3404S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566001
- 3405S - 3490S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566002
- 3491S - 3565S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566003
- 3566S - 3648S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566004
- 3649S - 3734S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566005
- 3735S - 3820S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566006
- 3821S - 3897S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566007
- 3898S - 3965S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566181
- 3966S - 4038S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566182
- 4039S - 4108S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566183
- 4109S - 4189S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566184
- 4190S - 4264S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566185
- 4265S - 4321S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566186
- 4322S - 4414S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566187
- 4415S - 4478S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566188
- 4479S - 4552S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566189
- 4553S - 4621S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566190
- 4622S - 4697S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566191
- 4698S - 4768S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566192
- 4769S - 4830S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566193
- 4831S - 4901S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566194
- 4902S - 4974S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566195
- 4975S - 5042S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566196
- 5043S - 5116S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566197
- 5117S - 5181S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566198
- 5182S - 5243S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566199
- 5214S - 5322S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566200
- 5323S - 5393S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566201
- 5394S - 5465S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566202
- 5466S - 5545S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566203
- 5546S - 5607S Family History Library United States & Canada Film 566204
- 5554 S - 5678 S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 589082
- 5679 S - 5847 S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 589083
- 5848 S - 5948 S 5748 S - 5751 S; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 589084
- Wills, v. A-B 1804-1828; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960519
- Wills, v. C-D 1828-1855; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960520
- Wills, v. E-F 1855-1869; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960521
- Wills, v. G-H 1869-1883; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960522
- Wills, v. I-J 1883-1892; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960523
- Wills, v. K-L 1892-1900; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960524
- Wills, v. M 1900-1905; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960525
- Estate Index, A-H; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960511
- Estate Index, I-Q; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960512
- Estate Index, R-Z; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960513
- Proceedings Index, v. 1-3; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960514
- Proceedings Index, v. 4-5; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960515
- Proceedings Index, v. 6-7; Family History Library United States & Canada Film 960516
I highlighted in red the microfilms that are not included on the Ancestry.com list above. The collections with numbers and the letter S are case files from the "Record of wills, 1753-1900, 1 S to 5948 S" collection. Those "Record of wills" may be included in the "All Counties" collection on Ancestry, and are microfilmed images of original wills and probate papers.
Here is the list of microfilms available for the "Wills, 1804-1905" volumes:
As you can see, there are 7 volumes of Wills. However, the Ancestry.com collection has only one volume - that for "Wills, v. K-L, 1892-1900." They don't have the other six Wills books for Sussex County, New Jersey yet. These "Wills" volumes are transcriptions of the original wills.
3) What's online at FamilySearch? The list of "volumes" on FamilySearch for Sussex County, New Jersey is:
- Administration bonds 1861-1866 vol A
- Administration bonds 1866-1881 vol B-C
- Administration bonds 1881-1896 vol D-E
- Administration bonds 1896-1908 vol F
- Assignees 1867-1905 vol 1
- Divisions of land 1795-1922 vol A-C
- Divisions of land 1820-1836 vol A
- Divisions of land 1835-1880 vol B-C
- Estate index 1804-1974 A-H
- Estate index 1804-1974 I-Q
- Estate index 1804-1974 R-Z
- Guardian bonds 1868-1900 vol B-C
- Inventories 1803-1819 vol A-C
- Inventories 1819-1840 vol D-F
- Inventories 1840-1856 vol G-H
- Inventories 1856-1865 vol I-K
- Inventories 1865-1876 vol L-M
- Inventories 1876-1886 vol N-O
- Inventories 1886-1896 vol P-R
- Inventories 1896-1903 vol S
- Petitions and renunciations 1871-1894 vol A-B
- Petitions and renunciations 1894-1903 vol C
- Proceedings Index 1804-1974 vol 1-3
- Proceedings Index 1804-1974 vol 4-5
- Proceedings Index 1804-1974 vol 6-7
- Real estate bonds 1861-1868 vol 1
- Real estate bonds 1878-1914 vol B
- Receipts 1813-1858 vol A-B
- Receipts 1858-1877 vol C-D
- Receipts 1877-1886 vol E-F
- Receipts 1886-1894 vol G-H
- Receipts 1894-1901 vol I-J
- Wills 1804-1828 vol A-B
- Wills 1828-1855 vol C-D
- Wills 1855-1869 vol E-F
- Wills 1869-1883 vol G-H
- Wills 1883-1892 vol I-J
- Wills 1892-1900 vol K-L
- Wills 1900-1905 vol M
I highlighted in red the items on FamilySearch that are not on Ancestry.com. I highlighted in blue on the Ancestry.com list the items that are not on the FamilySearch list.
Actually, Ancestry indexed almost all of the probate collections now available on FamilySearch - the major exception being the six Wills volumes. Perhaps they will add those in the coming months.
4) A careful researcher would do a similar list for every County of interest to them, and access the records that are available wherever they are - including at the County courthouse or archives, which were not listed above for Sussex County, New Jersey.
The only rational conclusion is, of course, that the Sussex County, New Jersey probate records are not all on microfilm, it's not all digitized, and it's not all on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch. That probably holds for every county and every state!
The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/09/how-complete-is-ancestrycom-wills-and.html
Copyright (c) 2015, Randall J. Seaver
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