In message <002801c53c3f$a1bf6b50$400cc2cb@ford>, Geoff Ford <dgford@dodo.com.au> writes >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, yes, that is probably it = few people knew the correct form, or much cared, as long as they labelled the local gent with an honorable description -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society