Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of letters of administration, letters testamentary, copies of wills of out-of-state residents, and (very few) items of correspondence that were generated by Chapter 70 of the Laws of 1823. That law required that letters of administration and copies of wills of persons dying out of state and of persons dying within the state who were not state residents and were probated in the Surrogate Court be filed with the Secretary of State. Letters of administration authorize the administration of the goods or estate of a deceased person; letters testamentary authorize the executor of a will to act.

The letters of administration provide the name and residence of the deceased, persons named as the intestate's adminstrator, residence, date executed, signature of witness, and filing date. The copies of the wills provide the testator's and executor's name and residence, date of will, place of filing, names of witnesses, and provisions.

B0081-92: The majority of records in this accretion are copies of last will and testaments filed for probate, with some ancillary letters testamentary. They are estrayed records that fill gaps within previous accretions to the series.