Pennsylvania Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records/Known Issues

Known Issues
NOTE: For a way to determine what digital records are likely to be found within a collection or how to find missing images elsewhere, see Document 114052, How to use Film Notes in the Catalog to determine the content of a final browse point in Historical Records.

Question #1 : Can you help me understand the Allegheny Estate Indexes? Answer #1: At first glance the records appear to be out of order, but are not. They are basically organized as follows: In each browse point there are title slides to identify the surname and given name initials. Then there will be a slide with a table to help explain and locate the names. The first sections in each grouping are the initial lists of names. The second sections in each grouping are where the names with larger entries were moved to – these are the 2000 sections. '''The same pattern is followed with the browse point for each surname. For example –'''

Estate index 1788-1971 surname F


 * Image 5 is the title slide to identify Given names A-J Image 6 is the Table to locate names Images 7-328 are sections 110-960 Images 330-465 are sections 2000-2061 Image 469 is the title slide to identify given names K-Z Images 471-748 are sections 1010-1860 Images 750-837 are sections 2000-2042

Estate index 1788-1971 surname L, first names A-J


 * Image 5 is the title slide to identify Given names A-E Image 6 is the table to locate names Image 7-197 are sections 110-560 Image 200-277 are sections 2000 – 2033 Image 281 is the Title slide to a new group - Given names F-J Image 285-440 are sections 610-930 Images 445-538 are sections 2034-2078

Question #2: There are problems with some of the browse points in Berks County. Can you help clarify these issues? Answer #2:


 * There appears to be records missing in Berks County between Dehart to Eisenach. There were records filmed out of order at the first of this film for the names John Lewis Barde and Martin Buchter. The browse point was therefore given the name Estates 1752- 1799 Barde, John Lewis-Eiler, Michael. This caused the browse point to be listed out of order if you are looking for DeHaven, Edward to Eiler, Michael. Edward DeHaven begins on image 53 in this browse point.
 * There are incorrect records located in the browse point Berks &gt; Estates 1850-1915 Raab, George J.-Rapp, Mary Ann. The correct records for this browse point are not available online at this time. Until this issue is resolved you can order microfilm 2368512 into a FamilySearch Center near you and view them there. See Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche for instructions on ordering microfilm, as well as finding a local FamilySearch Center where you can view the film

Question #3: Blair &gt; Wills 1846-1868 vol A-B appears to be an index. Where can the records be found? Answer #3: The browse point Blair &gt; Wills 1846-1868 vol A-B is actually the browse point Will and letter index 1846-1980 U-Z; and the browse point Blair &gt; Will and letter index 1846-1980 U-Z is actually the browse point Blair &gt; Wills 1846-1868 vol A-B. The two browse points are transposed.

Question #4: Where can I find the records for Bucks &gt; Orphans' Court records 1853-1856 vol 13? Answer #4: Bucks &gt; Orphans' Court records 1853-1856 vol 13 is not available online or on microfilm.

Question #5: Are the records available for Orphan's Court Docket V. A,1824 – 1856 in Clearfield County? Answer #5: The film with these records is shared with other records that are restricted. Because the other items on the film are restricted we can’t display these records electronically either. Film #1463016 can be ordered (See Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche) into a FamilySearch Center near you and viewed there.

Question #6: There seems to be a discrepancy between the index and the records at the browse point Lebanon &gt; Orphans' Court dockets 1841-1848 vol E. Can you explain this? Answer #6: We do not know the cause of this discrepancy, but it appears to have been there at the time of filming. The Catalog makes the following note for the film: Film 21501 - Each volume has an index; however, the index to volume E does not match the volume.

Question #7: The pages I want to view seem to be missing. Is there a way to view these images? Answer #7: There are instances where the images were missed in the original filming, either being missed by the camera operator, or they were missing in the original volume. An instance of this could be pages 544 and 545 in Lebanon &gt; Wills 1813-1843 vol A-B. They are not available for viewing.

Question #8: I am trying to locate records that should be in the Luzerne &gt; Continuance docket index 1875-1891 A-Z waypoint. The records there seem to be in error. Can you help me? Answer #8: In Luzerne county, the link listed as the Continuance docket index 1875-1891 A-Z actually goes to the Orphans' Court record index 1778-1874 waypoint, and the link to the Orphans Court record index 1778-1874 is actually linked to the Continuance docket index 1875-1891 A-Z. The records linked have been switched in these two waypoints.

Question #9: Are there more than Probate Records in Northampton County? Answer #9: Land Records have been located in the Northampton County browse point as well as Probate Records. The following browse points are Land Records:


 * Surveys, v. 25-28
 * Surveys, v. 29-32
 * Surveys, v. 33-37
 * Surveys, v. 38-40
 * Surveys, v. 41-43
 * Surveys, v. 44-47
 * Surveys, v. 48-50
 * Surveys, v. 51-53
 * Surveys, v. 54-56
 * Warrants 1734-1769
 * Warrants 1769-1785
 * Warrants 1785-1786
 * Warrants 1786-1792
 * Warrants 1792-1793
 * Warrants 1793-1879
 * Warrants and surveys, v. 57-58 21701

Question #10: Westmoreland appears to be missing records. Where can these records be found? Answer #10: Two browse points are missing from Westmoreland because the microfilm 1316409 is not digitized:


 * Westmoreland &gt; Register's and Orphans' Court record index no date W-Z would originate from Items 1-2: General index W, given names S (continued)- Z General index XYZ, given names A-Z, and
 * Westmoreland &gt; Will index v.1-2 1772-1918; Wills 1773-1819 v.1 would originate from Item 3-5: Will index v.1-2 1772-1918 and Wills 1773-1819 v.1.

See Ordering Microfilm or Microfiche for instructions on ordering microfilm, as well as finding a local FamilySearch Center where you can view the film.

Question #11: If pages are missing in a browse point, are they available to be viewed somewhere else? Answer #11: These pages are not available; possibly they were lost prior to filming the records.


 * Greene County &gt; Wills 1875-1892 Vol 5-6. Pages 234 and 235
 * York &gt; Wills 1818-1833 vol O-Q is missing Pages 1 through 41 of book P.

If you encounter additional problems with this collection, feel free to report them at [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the following information:


 * If browsing this collection: please include the full path you followed to where the problem occurred. The browse path is located above the Image viewer window. For example: Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 &gt; Blair &gt; Wills 1846-1868 vol A-B &gt; Image 7 of 117.
 * If you are reporting a technical issue: please include your operating system and browser version, such as Windows XP and Internet Explorer.

Your assistance will help ensure that future revisions will be considered.

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