The Registry of Deeds began recording wills of persons who died after March 25, 1708, in which real estate was assigned to heirs. These wills were recorded in three ways: in full, in the testator's own words; "Narrate," or third person; and "Précis," or brief statement showing to whom the testator assigned his real estate. These have become invaluable after the destruction in 1922 of the original wills deposited at the Dublin Public Record Office.