DGS Delaware Orphans' Court Project 

Types of Orphan Court Documents are: Freeholder's Report on Intestate Land Annual Valuation of Minor's Land Guardianship of Minors Division of Property among Heirs Survey of Property Widow's Dower Petition for Sale of Property These all-new CDs contain all the original images (as pdf files) scanned from the microfilm plus a database of the key information in each entry and also an every name alphabetical index. By placing all this information on one CD, the researcher can electronically search the index to find the role a given individual played in the Orphans' Court proceeding, then go to the image of the original Orphans' Court book to ensure the reliability of the abstract. Click here for a sample of database [PDF]. To view, use Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you may download a free copy using the button at the right. Work Completed to 2010-June Images from Sussex Co Delaware Orphans' Court Books B-C (1777-82), Books D-E (1784-97) and Book F (1793-97) are available on CDs Each CD contains a complete index with all related images. The CDs were published with the permission of Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware, 2004. The original Orphans' Court Books are in the holdings of Delaware Public Archives. The abstracts were made from the Delaware Public Archives microfilm: Volume F, RG4840, REEL 5, Sussex County Orphan's Court records from 1793-1797. The complete indexes include relationship to the decedent or principal involved; dates; page numbers; property location; reason for the case; and additional comments that should be helpful to the researcher. These CDs are on file in the Archives in Dover and the Historical Society in Wilmington. To order any of these, use the DGS Order Form Each of the following links goes to an index of the persons named in the Book(s) specified. The records consist of petitions, orders, land divisions or sales, valuations, and accounts. The index notes each person's role in the transaction -- decedant, heirs, witness, bondsman, creditor, administrator, executor, petitioner, freeholder, surveyor tenent or adjoining land owner. [The index for Books B and C should be coming soon.] Index to Books D and E [PDF] Index to Book F [PDF] The first CD covers the Sussex County Orphan's Court book from 1777-1782, Volumes B & C, RG4840, REEL 3. It has 2,900 names listed from 738 original pages. 738 pages + database (CD only), $18.00 ($15.00 members) + postage [ISBN ]. The second CD covers the Sussex County Orphan's Court book from 1784-1797, Volumes D & E, RG4840, REEL 4. It has 3,533 names listed from 647 original pages. 647 pages + database (CD only), $18.00 ($15.00 members) + postage [ISBN ]. The third CD covers Sussex County Orphan's Court book from 1793-1797, Volume F, RG4840, REEL 5. It has 2,300 names listed from 436 original pages. 436 pages + database (CD only), $18.00 ($15.00 members) + postage [ISBN ]. With many thanks to the volunteers who contributed so much of their time and knowledge to helping create the index, especially to Nancy Pinner of Decatur GA and Kay Schorah of New Castle DE. Edited and converted to CD format by Margaret A. David, Wilmington DE.