Boulder County, Colorado Probate Case Files Index: 1862–1978
September 9, 2020
The Boulder County, Colorado Probate Case Files Index: 1862–1978 is an index to the physical estate case files located at the Colorado State Archives. There are almost 20,000 estate case files listed in this index thanks to the work of staff at the Colorado State Archives and a tireless group of volunteers.
For more information click the link below.
Boulder County, Colorado Lodged Wills & Inheritance Tax Waivers, 1899-1975: An Annotated Index
April 24, 2020
The Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the University of Colorado, 1870-1876 chronicles the establishment of the University, donation of land, struggles with the legislature over funding, and efforts to raise funds in the community and beyond. The Minutes identify many of those involved in the building of the first building on the University campus, now affectionately known as Old Main.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/CU_Trustees_Minutes.html
The Boulder County, Colorado District Court Civil Appearance Docket, 1878-1882 is a a brief synopsis of the cases heard before the District Court.
The majority of cases in this record are civil cases including a few guardianship cases, along with a few criminal cases.
There are quite a number of water rights cases along with a synopsis of who had water rights, for how much water, and in what order.
The first section of this book is a list of cases in the order that they appear in the ledger along with the case number, the primary plaintiffs and defendants in the case, as well as the cause of action, if one was given.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Civil_Appearance_1878-1882.html
Boulder County, Colorado District Court Widow’s Relinquishment, Volumes 1 & 2, 1889–1937
December 30, 2015
The Boulder County, Colorado District Court Widow’s Relinquishment, Volume 1, 1889–1926, and Volume 2, 1926–1937 record what household items and other property that were given to the widow as a part of her assignment of property from the estate before any debts were paid.
The records show the names of the deceased, the widow or orphan and the administrators or executors of the estate along with the judges and clerks who recorded each transaction.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Widows_Vols1-2.html
Boulder County, Colorado, County Court Probate Record, Vol 1, 1875-1884
December 30, 2015
The Boulder County, Colorado, County Court Probate Record, Vol 1, 1875-1884 records the activities of a decedent’s estate including, the settlement, any guardianship of minors, the names of heirs, who held the will, the witnesses to the will, the bond sureties for the executor, any debtors or creditors to the estate, what claims were pain, what debts were uncollectible and who the deceased’s attending physician was. The record may also include the actual death date of the estate owner, and the birth dates of minors showing whether they were over or under age 14 for the purposes of assigning a guardian.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Probate_Vol1.html
Boulder County, Colorado County Court Will Record, Volume A, 1875-1889
December 30, 2015
This record book is made up of pre-printed forms that a clerk could use to record wills. Each record names the deceased, the petitioner who is bringing the will to the probate court, and the names of the witnesses and executors to the will.
The decedent’s date of death is recorded in a section entitled Proof of Death. The will was recorded (copied from the original by the clerk), and signed by the executor, the clerk and the probate judge.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/Will_Record_VolA.html
The Boulder County, Colorado, District Court Guardians Bonds, Vol. A, 1876-1902 is a District Court record of the men and women who posted bonds in their roles as guardians for children who were due an inheritance. Often a surviving parent would petition to act as the guardian of their own children, but sometimes guardians were assigned by the court if the child was under the age of 14. Minors over the age of 14 were allowed to choose their own guardians during this period. The journal names the deceased, often details the relationships between the deceased and his or her heirs, frequently gives the ages of the children at the time of the bond hearing and occasionally gives the child’s exact birthdate. The journal also names the guardians, the sureties, the judges who heard the cases, and the clerks who recorded the bonds.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/guardian_1876.html
The Boulder County, Colorado Probate Court Fee Book, 1874-1890 records the fees paid to and by the estates of the probate cases listed in the book. The records show the names of the deceased and the administrators or executors of the estate along with the judges and clerks who recorded each transaction. Oftentimes, guardians were assigned to children under the age of 14 even if a parent was still living to ensure that any inheritance was protected and preserved for the child. Minors over the age of 14 had the right to request their own guardian. The journal also shows the names of debtors who owed an estate money, and the creditors who were paid by the estate.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/probate_fee_1874.html
Brainard’s Hotel Register, Boulder, Colorado, 1880: An Annotated Index
December 26, 2015
This index of the hotel’s register gives the names of hotel guests, their residence, the date of their stay, the meal service and what room number they were given. Each guest register page is separated by a blotter page with advertisements for businesses. Some of the more notable events are the P.T. Barnum’s Show stay on August 1st to 3rd, and the hotel’s reception given to former President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife on August 21st, where more than one hundred guests were treated to a ten course dinner, cocktails and desserts while being entertained by the Cremona Park Brass Band of Denver. Some of the more notable signatures in the register are those of Philadelphia financier Charles Yerkes, businessmen Herman and Charles Boettcher, and Colorado Governor John L. Routt.
Available at: http://www.irongate.com/pages/brainards_hotel.html
Boulder Pioneers Project 