England, Durham Diocese, Allertonshire Peculiar Stray Probate Bonds - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes probate records from the hundred of Allertonshire in the county of Yorkshire for the years 1732-1768. These records cover the parishes and chapelries of Birkby, Cowesby, Hutton Bonville, Leake, Nether Silton, North Otterington, Osmotherley and Thornton-le-Street. There are also six items relating to Crayke.

Probate bonds are a written guarantee that persons will faithfully perform the tasks assigned to them by a probate court. The executor posted a testamentary bond, the administrator posted an administration bond, and the guardian of a minor child posted a bond of tuition or curation.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following list indicates potential information provided in these records. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all the listed information, as record-keeping practices varied greatly over time.

Probate bonds normally include:
 * Surname and Given Name of the Participant
 * Age of Participant
 * Gender of Participant
 * Current Residence and Previous Residences
 * Current Occupation

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of person you are looking for
 * Approximate date of death

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select Durham University Library Reference Number and Year to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Save or print a copy of the image if possible
 * If a death date is available, use it to search for a death record
 * Use any information about family members to search for census records
 * If an age at death is available, calculate an estimated birth year to search for a birth record
 * Probate records may tell you of land ownership or occupation. This information may lead you to land or business records
 * Continue to search for people with the same surname to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Check for variants of given names and surnames
 * Spelling may not have been standardized. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
 * Simple clerical errors were also always possible
 * Individuals were often listed under a middle name, a nickname or an abbreviation of their given name
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name, surname, or expand the date range to return broader list of possible matches
 * Search the records of nearby localities

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

“England, Durham Diocese, Allertonshire Peculiar Stray Probate Bonds, 1732-1768.” Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2017. Special Collections, Palace Green Library, Durham University.
 * Collection Citation:

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