Probate Indexes
There are two main types of indexes in the probate records
INDIVIDUAL VOLUME INDEXES are found at the front of most volumes (occasionally the back)
Pros: They are usually easy to read; when it tells you a page number you know that page is in this volume/book
so you don't have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what they are talking about
They make it easy to watch for cluster names
Cons: You have to look in each volume AND be aware that sometimes more than one volume was put on the film. Usually these are
labeled well and say at the top "volumes 6 & 7) but you have to figure out where 6 ends and 7 begins to look at each index.
Example of Individual Volumes index - Shelby Co. KY
COMPREHENSIVE INDEXES - these might be an index to wills; index to letters of testamentary; index to administrations etc. but they are indexes compiled to the entire set of that record. Some probate indexes index records from ALL of these sets together
Pros: It is all in one place. They are often in nice clear handwriting or have been typed
They help you know if a surname appears in the county at the time your family was there
Cons: There can be trouble figuring out what they are referring to. They say volume D but Ancestry or FamilySearch show no volume D in their
labeling. Sometimes the citation seems up front and clear but when you get there that is not on that page because they are referring
to some volume that you can't find because a) it is called something else or b) it has not been filmed or digitized
How best to use these.
Test an entry. Go see if you can find it. If you can locate the test record then keep in the comprehensive index. If you could not locate the record go ahead and scan the comprehensive index for names and approx. dates. Write these down. Try again using individual volume indexes.
Examples of Comprehensive Indexes
Probate Index to Middlesex Co. MA
Will Index to Frederick Co. MD 1747-1930
Index to Letters of Testamentary and Administration, Clinton Co. NY
Will index to Jefferson Co. New York
Aside from the indexes made by the county there are many published indexes - for more help there see the Other Places to Find Probate Records Online page