New York Consolidated Laws, Surrogate's Court Procedure Act - SCP § 1423. Record of wills in former courts of probate; evidence

The exemplification of the record of a will proved before the judge of the former court of probate and recorded in his office before January 1, 1785, certified under the seal of the officer having custody of the record, shall be admitted in evidence in any case after it has been made to appear that diligent and fruitless search has been made for the original will.