> >In my transcribing of Parish Records (Cornish) --- especially Baptisms' >Registers --- I have frequently seen the terms "Gent" and "Esq" interchanged >when referring to the same person. True, but there was a precise definition and a loose definition, and if the same man appears to have moved from Gent to Esq, it is possible his older brother had died in between. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

I agree, Eve. But in my example of interchanging of the terms I meant that it was used more loosely than that. It has been used (with four baptisms) as Gent, Esq, Esq, Gent and I don't think that it was the rank that yoyoed! I believe that, in the eyes of the Curate, the terms were being used with equal value. Geoff ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve McLaughlin" <eve@varneys.demon.co.uk> To: <BUCKS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 08, 2005 3:57 AM Subject: Re: [BKM] Gentleman --- Esquire > >> >>In my transcribing of Parish Records (Cornish) --- especially Baptisms' >>Registers --- I have frequently seen the terms "Gent" and "Esq" >>interchanged >>when referring to the same person. > > True, but there was a precise definition and a loose definition, and if > the same man appears to have moved from Gent to Esq, it is possible his > older brother had died in between. > > -- > Eve McLaughlin > > Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians > Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society > > ______________________________