A Guide to Copies & Abstracts of Irish Wills

Description

When the Dublin Public Record Office in the Four Courts was destroyed in 1922, every original will deposited there was lost with the exception of one Consistorial and eleven Prerogative Will Books. Fortunately genealogists had made copies and abstracts of many thousands of these wills and either published them or presented them to libraries. This book is a guide to the whereabouts of these copies and abstracts. The work is based on materials found (1) at the Society of Genealogists, London; (2) in the Prerogative Will Books that were saved; (3) in a list of a few early wills deposited in England; and (4) in wills contained in journals and family histories. It is arranged alphabetically by the surname of the testator, followed by the date of probate, place of residence, sometimes occupation, and source. About 4,000 wills are cited altogether.