New York County, Letters of Administration Index, 1743-1875 (Barber Collection)

This database is an index to letters of administration filed in New York County, New York from 1743 to 1875. A letter of administration is a legal document created usually in intestate estates (when a person dies without making a will), since no executor or administrator of the estate was named. The letter of administration names the person who is to be the executor or administrator of the estate.

Information contained in this index includes the following:

• Name of intestate
  
• Name of administrator
  
• Date letters of administration was granted and recorded
  
• Source information (Liber, Page, and Bond Book numbers)
  

It is important that you use the information found in this database to locate your ancestor in the original record that this index references, as more information about your ancestor will likely be found in the original record. Letters of Administration were kept by the New York County Surrogate's Court. Use the source information provided in this index to help you locate the original record held by the Court. Copies of these original records are available on microfilm at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah and may also be available on microfilm at other libraries, archives, or institutions.