Washington County New York Probate Records, 1788-1916

This collection includes images of probate records from the County of Washington in the State of New York. Probate records relate to a deceased person’s estate, whether that estate is “testate” (through a will) or “intestate” (without a will). Whether the decedent left a large estate or just some personal property, there’s a good chance that a probate file exists in a local court that oversaw distribution of property, the guardianship of a minor, or payment of debts.

The contents of a probate file can vary from case to case, but certain details are found in most probates, most importantly, the names and residences of beneficiaries and their relationship to the decedent. An inventory of the estate assets can reveal personal details about the deceased’s occupation and lifestyle. There may also be references to debts, deeds, and other documents related to the settling of the estate.

• Decrees
  A decree is the judicial decision of the court. In probate, decrees usually involve heirship or distribution.
  • Decrees 1872-1885 vol A-B
  • Decrees 1885-1892 vol C-D
  • Decrees 1892-1894 vol E
  • Decrees 1894-1901 vol 1-2
  • Decrees to probate of wills, vol 1 1896-1902
• Letters of administration
  Letters of Administration refers to the formal document from the court granting authority to handle the affairs of the estate.
  • Letters of administration index 1788-1896 – Shared
  • Letters of administration 1787-1825 vol 1 – Shared
  • Letters of administration 1813-1823 vol 2-3 – Shared
  • Letters of administration 1825-1836 vol A-B – Shared
  • Letters of administration 1837-1845 vol C
  • Letters of administration 1844-1850 vol D
  • Letters of administration 1850-1860 vol E-F
  • Letters of administration 1860-1874 vol G
  • Letters of administration 1874-1887 vol H
  • Letters of administration 1887-1896 vol I
  • Letters of administration 1896-1902 vol 1
  • Letters of administration 1902-1907 vol 2
  • Letters of administration 1907-1916 vol 3-4
• Letters of guardianship
  Letters of guardianship refers to the court order appointing a guardian to handle the affairs of a minor or a person deemed incompetent.
  • Letters of guardianship, v. A-B 1818-1866 – Not available online. Rent the microfilm.
  • Letters of guardianship, v. C-D 1866-1895 – Not available online. Rent the microfilm.
  • Letters of guardianship, v. 1 1895-1911 – Not available online. Rent the microfilm.
  • Letters of guardianship v. 2 1911-1928
  • Decrees of guardianship, v. 1 1896-1911 – Not available online. Rent the microfilm.
  • Decrees of guardianship, v. 2 1911-1928 – Not available online. Rent the microfilm.
• Letters of testamentary
  Letters testamentary refers to the document approving the appointment of an executor and authorizing that person to administer the estate.
  • Letters of testamentary 1788-1812 vol 1
  • Letters of testamentary 1803-1828 vol 2-7
  • Letters of testamentary 1829-1832 vol A1-A2
  • Letters of testamentary 1860-1874 vol G
  • Letters of testamentary 1874-1885 vol H
  • Letters of testamentary 1885-1894 vol I
  • Letters of testamentary 1895-1908 vol 1-2
  • Letters of testamentary 1908-1920 vol 3-4
• General minutes of Washington County Surrogate Court, 1830-1900
  Minutes are the notes made of the probate court proceedings.
  • Minutes – Name and Volume index 1830-1836
  • Minutes 1830-1836 vol A-B
  • Minutes 1836-1842 vol C-D
  • Minutes 1842-1849 vol E-F
  • Minutes 1849-1856 vol G-H
  • Minutes 1856-1860 vol I
  • Minutes 1860-1864 vol J-K
  • Minutes 1864-1867 vol L-M
  • Minutes 1868-1872 vol N-O
  • Minutes 1872-1878 vol P-Q
  • Minutes 1878-1881 vol R
  • Minutes 1881-1886 vol S-T
  • Minutes 1886-1888 vol U-V
  • Minutes 1889-1891 vol W-X
  • Minutes 1891-1894 vol Y-Z
  • Minutes 1894-1897 vol AA-AB
  • Minutes 1897-1898 vol 2
  • Minutes 1898-1900 vol 3-4
• Orders Admitting to Probate
  • Orders 1872-1885 vol A-B
• Wills
  Wills direct the distribution of the estate according to the wishes of the testator. When the testator dies, the executor or executrix petitions the court for letters testamentary to prove (probate) the will. If the will is judged to be valid, it will be recorded in the will books of that court. The recorded will may include affidavits of witnesses attesting to the authenticity of the will and the competence of the testator at the time it was written. A copy of the will may also be found in the loose papers of a probate packet.
  • Will index 1788-1896 – Shared
  • Wills 1788-1811 vol 1-2 – Shared
  • Wills 1811-1824 vol 3-5
  • Wills 1824-1834 vol 6-7, A1
  • Wills 1830-1845 vol A2-B2
  • Wills 1840-1852 vol C-E
  • Wills 1852-1857 vol F-G
  • Wills 1857-1862 vol H-I
  • Wills 1862-1867 vol J-K
  • Wills 1868-1871 vol L-M
  • Wills 1872-1878 vol N-O
  • Wills 1878-1881 vol P-Q
  • Wills 1881-1884 vol R-S
  • Wills 1884-1888 vol T-U
  • Wills 1888-1892 vol V-W
  • Wills 1892-1895 vol X-Y
  • Wills 1895-1899 vol 1-2
  • Wills 1899-1901 vol 3
  • Wills 1901-1907 vol 4-6
  • Wills 1907-1916 vol 6-9
  • Wills 1916 vol 9

Will Sample: The Will of Benjamin Colvin of Washington County, New York

Will of Benjamin Colvin – Page 1 “New York Probate Records, 1629-1971,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-24594-11674-51?cc=1920234 : accessed 26 April 2016), Washington > Wills 1788-1811 vol 1-2 > image 4 of 435; county courthouses, New York.

Will of Benjamin Colvin – Page 2 “New York Probate Records, 1629-1971,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-24594-11410-78?cc=1920234 : accessed 26 April 2016), Washington > Wills 1788-1811 vol 1-2 > image 5 of 435; county courthouses, New York.