Dear Angus folks, I am forwarding my posting that I made to Fife rootsweb, as I hope the topic is general...related to "Place" terminology. Hope you can help, thanks Liz of BC Canada > dear folks, I have been searching thru OPR Baptisms for Forgan, as > transcribed on Newport, Wormit & Forgan archives. > > There are some descriptions of the "Places" that the parents lived in > Forgan Parish that I need help with [terminology]: > for example..."ground"...or "Newtounground" or "Harlawshiels > ground"...what does "ground" mean and how is that different from just > "Newtoun"? Also, saw "St Fort ground". Cottoun" I understand as > cottages for cottars? > > and I did find numerous references to "Harlawsheils" with various > spellings, from 1704 thru to 1748 then more infrequently until it > disappeared about 1770.. A strange change happened tho..."my" David > Walker, father of 7 children baptised Forgan 1704 thru 1718, was > described as "OF" Harlashiels...and a "Heritor' but in 1720 he was > described as "IN" Harlowshiels". Then, after 1720, the next reference > to Harlawshiels was for 1726 baptism, and the father "IN" Harlawshiels > and this description continued until 1748. From 1726 on, the > surnames were not Walker. > > I had understood that being "OF" a place might mean some ownership > versus being "IN" a place meant tenancy or less. > > I would be interested in someone's expertise of there terms. thanks > Liz of Canada >