MARYLAND MISCELLANEOUS
 

An explanation about the early probate records is given in "Ancestry's Red Book, American State, County & Town Sources" published by Ancestry Pub. Co., 1989, FHL book and film numbers added by MAD:
      "Before 1777 estates were recorded in the prerogative court, thus the records are "complete" despite courthouse fires and other losses at the county level. For the 41 volumes of prerogative court records (now at the Maryland State Archives and described in the work by Hartsook and Skordas cited under Land Records), see James M. Magruder, Jr., comp., "Index of Maryland Colonial Wills 1634-1777", 3 vols. (1933; reprint in one vol., with additions by Louise E. Magruder, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1986). (MAD: INDEX only) (FHL book 975.2 P2m 1967; FHL book 975.2 S2m and film 1,425,640 item 1-3, orig. 1933)
      "These wills through 1743 were abstracted by Jane Baldwin Cotton in "The Maryland Calendar of Wills", 8 vols. (1904-28; reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968). (FHL book 975.2 S2c)
            MAD: This series was continued in Vol.9-16, based on the work of Annie Walker Burns, edited by F. Edward Wright (FHL book 975.2 P28c)
      "Abstracts of later wills were provided by Annie Walker Burns, comp., "Abstracts of Maryland Will" (Books 24-38, 1744-73) 15 parts (Annapolis: Pub. by author, 1938-45) (FHL book 975.2 P28b v.24-38); Book 38 (FHL book 975.2 P28b v.38 & film 928,170 item 6-7), book 33 (FHL book 975.2 S2ba & films 1,036,796 item 1 & 908,794 item 2)
            and by James M. Magruder, Jr., comp., "Maryland Colonial Abstracts: Wills, Accounts and Inventories 1772-1777", 5 vols. (1934-39; reprint in one vol., Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1968). (FHL books 975.2 S2mj 1968 reprint; 975.2 S2mj orig. 5 vols.)
      "See also "Index to Inventories of Estates, 1718-1777" (Annapolis: Hall of Records Commission, 1947) (FHL film 12,898)
            and "Abstracts of the Inventories of the Prerogative Court of Maryland", the latter by V.L. Skinner, Jr., with three volumes published 1988-89 by Family Line Publications, covering 1769-77. (FHL book 975.2 P28s)
      "After 1777 probates were recorded in the county orphans' court. Indexes to wills kept in courthouses have been published for the counties of Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Charles, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Prince Georges, St. Marys, Somerset, and Washington.
      "Abstracts of some county wills have been published, most notably the twenty volumes for Baltimore County, 1783-1845, compiled by Annie Walker Burns but these should be checked with original records for accuracy. (Administrations 1776-1805, FHL film 1,491,086; wills v.4-14, 15-23, FHL book 975.271 P28be in 8 vols. & films 928,253 & 928,254; v.4 985,193; library does not have v.1-3)
      "Some abstracts are found in journals, such as those for Frederick County in "Western Maryland Genealogy" as are indexes, such as that for Carroll County in the "Carrolltonian" (1984)."
 

Information about Maryland Wills is also included in the preface to "Worcester Co. MD Wills, Will Book MH#3, 1666-1742" by V.L. Skinner Jr. (FHL booklet 975.2 A1 #155)
      "In Maryland when an individual died prior to 1776 there may well be three copies of the will (and other probate records). The first is the original copy which may have been deposited at the MD State Archives in Annapolis. The 2nd is the copy of the will found in the county court house, and the 3rd copy is that found in the records of the Prerogative Court, which were kept first at St.Marys City, then in Annapolis, and are now of course at the MD State Archives. Whenever possible all three copies should be consulted, with any discrepancies noted. The original will may be faded or cracked (due to having been folded), but may provide the proper spelling of a name miscopied by either the county clerks or those of the Prerogative Court. On the other hand, the copies may contain more legible writing than the original, which may have been written in haste by someone poorly educated or hardly able to hold a pen - or both."
 

"Archives of Maryland" Vol.I to Vol.LXXII (Vol.72) have been published in book form (FHL book 975.2 B4m).
      Many volumes of records of the Maryland Archives are available online as of 3/1/2002. Go to: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/
      Choose "Archives of Maryland" This brings you to:
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/html/index.html
      You can choose an index to all volumes, or an index to a specific volume, or an individual volume and page to look at.
      Choose "All volumes" for a list of all volumes, by volume number and title:
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/html/volumes.html

The titles of the following volumes look particularly interesting:
      Volume 77 - Proceedings of the Maryland Court of Appeals, 1695-1729
      Volume 78 - Proceedings of the Conventions of the Province of Maryland, 1774-1776
      Volume 80 - Maryland Land Records (external link)
      Volume 81 - Maryland Tax Records (external link)
      Volume 86 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1670-1671
      Volume 87 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1671-1675
      Volume 88 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1675
      Volume 89 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1675-1677
      Volume 90 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1683
      Volume 91 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1687-1689
      Volume 106 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1689-1690
      Volume 189 - Register of Wills (external link)
      Volume 191 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1690-1691
      Volume 200 - Reports of Cases in the High Court of Chancery of Maryland 1846-1854
      Volume 201 - Bland's Reports, Chancery Court 1809-1832
      Volume 202 - Court Records of Prince George's County, Maryland 1696-1699.
      Volume 366 - History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-6, Volume 2
      Volume 367 - History and Roster of Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-6, Volume 1
      Volume 371 - The Maryland Line in the Confederate Army. 1861-1865 by W. W. Goldsborough
      Volume 405 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1691-1692
      Volume 406 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1692-1693
      Volume 407 - Somerset County Judicial Records, 1693-1694
      Volume 415 - Land Office and Prerogative Court Records of Colonial Maryland
 

Patent Series of Maryland Land Office (partial index in "Early Settlers of MD" by Gust Skordas, FHL book 975.2 W2s)
      MAD: index was to land patents 1633-1680 in first 24 volumes; patent records continue to 1852, but no overall index; indexes in many orig. volumes, some in front & some at end, per card catalog. Book index was to Liber and folio (page); a separate list in Skordas' book gave following information about the Libers. The FHC film list was by Vol. number.
      Patents Liber 12 (Vol.14), transcript, completed 1725; Folios 1-417 copied from Liber HH (1668-69) folios 1-508. Folios 418-638 copied from Liber JJ (1668-71) folios 1-314.
      Vol.14 Liber 12 folio 517: Liber FF 123?, The 4 May 1670, came John Parker of Weymouth, Merchant, and proved right to 600 acres of land, it being due to him for transporting (4 small words) following into this province to inhabit, viz, Thomas Howes, James Land, John Duckan, John Tweny?, Lawrence Moys, John Parker, Amy Prichard, Lysbeth? Bowen, William Norton, William Snow, Peter Raymond, Lawrenes Geofery?; I do assign over all my right title & interest to land for transporting the above persons to Peter Archer, 14th (no month) 1670, /s/ John Parker. Forward? Fol. 548. (FHL film 13,069)
 

Early Duncans of Maryland:
      Charles Dunkin, b. Nov. 23, 1805, Schoharie County, N.Y.; d. Jan. 1, 1867, Stamford C.C. (Headstone in Unadilla Cemetery); mar. June 30, 1831, Maryland to Sarah Hospital, b. April 9, 1810, Leesburg, Virginia, d. April 24, 1862 (Interred in Unadilla Cemetery, Michigan); of 1850 Livingston Co. MI census. Pg.14-15, "Bismarck-Mandan (ND) Hist. & Genealogical Society" Vol.2#1 March 1973 (FHL book 978.477 B2b)
 

1915 "History of Dearborn County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families" ed. by Archibald Shaw, pub. by B.F. Bowen (Sacramento FHC; FHL film 931,796)
      Pg.1051-3: WILLIAM F. DUNCAN, M.D., son of Josiah Duncan and Melissa (McMullen) Duncan, is a native of Manchester township, his birth occurring on December 28, 1864. ... Josiah Duncan, father of William F. Duncan, was a native of Sparta township, Dearborn county. He was born in 1837, and was educated in the schools of the township. ... The paternal grandparents were James and Mary Duncan, both natives of Maryland. They came to Dearborn county in the early pioneer days, ... By his first wife Mr. Duncan had six children, John, Henry, William, Joshua, Ann and Eliza. By his second wife, Mary, he had four children, Josiah, James, Robert and Thomas.

1881 "History of Coshocton County, Ohio : its past and present, 1740-1881; containing a comprehensive history of Ohio; a complete history of Coshocton County, a history of its soldiers in the late war, biographies and histories of pioneer families, etc." compiled by Norman Newell Hill, History of Ohio by A.A. Graham; pub. A.A. Graham (FHL book 977.165 H2hi and films 962,658 item 1 and 934,887 item 2)
      Pg.569: Matthew Duncan, from Westmoreland Co. PA, emigrated about 1808 to the southwestern part of the Giffen section, on the place now owned by Mr. L. Lawrence. He distinguished himself in early times by building a large store house, the first of the kind erected in the township.
      Pg.653: James Cochran, Jefferson Twp, born in East Union, Coshocton Co. OH, Dec. 4, 1838, son of Caleb and Anna (Duncan) Cochran, and grandson of William Cochran and Matthew Duncan. His grandfather, Duncan, came to America at 12 years of age, and settled in Maryland. His father was born February 5, 1806; died September 28, 1877. His mother was born Feb. 29, 1812, in New Castle Twp. ...

1881 "History of Stark County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio" by William Henry Perrin, pub. by Baskin & Battey (FHL book 977.162 H2p and FHL films 1,036,675 item 1 and 1,000,342 item 1; some minor references not copied)
      Pg.980: P.J. Palmer, farmer, P.O. McDonaldsville, is the son of Michael and Jane (Duncan) Palmer, who were of German descent, father born in Maryland. He was a hatter by trade, having learned his trade at Chambersburg [Franklin Co.], PA, after which he went to Funkstown [?Funk town, Wayne Co. OH?], and opened up business for himself. About 1831 or 1832 he removed his family to Stark Co. and engaged in farming. His family are: Matilda, wife of John Pletz; Peter J., Melinda, wife of B. Ryan; Margaret, wife of B. Williams; George W.; Lewis William; Caroline, Mrs. Coryagon; Emma, Mrs. Tryvalbiss, and Odell. The family are all living in other states but Peter J., our subject, who has lived in Jackson Twp since 1832. In 1845 he married Caroline Page, widow of Oliver Page, 5 children ...
 

END

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