| Document Status |
Explanation |
| Abstract |
The vast majority of these were compiled by professional genealogists and family history enthusiasts, like the Crossle, Green and Jennings papers. By far the largest collection was that kept by the tireless Gertrude Thrift, one of the early indexers of testamentary records. Despite the invaluable nature of their work, we recommend caution when deciding whether to order a copy of this type of source. Many abstracts and extracts contain little additional information beyond what appears in this index. However, when there is further information, it is usually the sort most sought after by the people who compiled them. In other words the names and critical data about relatives mentioned in the original document. |
| Certified Copy |
Many copies were made of original documents by clerks at the PROI and are known as certified copies, because the PROI certified that they were faithful renditions of the original text. |
| Copy |
Many of these were taken by clerks at the PROI and are known as certified copies. Others were compiled as part of legal cases heard at the Landed Estates Court, or were collected by surveyors carrying out inquisitions post mortem in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, most copies originate from private collections deposited with the PROI after 1922. |
| Extract |
The vast majority of these were compiled by professional genealogists and family history enthusiasts, like the Crossle, Green and Jennings papers. By far the largest collection was that kept by the tireless Gertrude Thrift, one of the early indexers of testamentary records. Despite the invaluable nature of their work, we recommend caution when deciding whether to order a copy of this type of source. Many abstracts and extracts contain little additional information beyond what appears in this index. However, when there is further information, it is usually the sort most sought after by the people who compiled them. In other words the names and critical data about relatives mentioned in the original document. |
| Original |
Either an original document at the National Archives which survived 1922, or deposited since that date. |
| Transcript |
These were mainly written for administrative purposes, either by court officials or clerks at the Inland Revenue, for their own files. For this reason they are often summaries, but retain much critical information taken directly from the original records. They also date from soon after the time that the originals were proved or granted. |
