Hello everyone, I just bought the above book, and have been going thru it and found some interesting definitions, so I thought I would send a few out to see if anyone is interested in seeing more. The book is geared to England, for the most part, as far as places from which to obtain info, but the general definitions are very good. I will give the samples from A-I that I thought you might like to see. --Aulnager- An official responsible for inspecting and measuring woolen cloth --Betrothal- from the 12th century, a betrothal followed by a pregnancy, or even consummation, was considered a valid marriage, though a formal declaration of marriage before witnesses was expected. (Also called Espousal). Espousal Books, recording such contracts, survive for a handful of (English) parishes --Blue Coat Boy- Many lower orders wore blue clothing. Charity children were known as Blue Coat Boys because of their prescribed dress --Bordar-Also known as a Cottar, a small-holder, usually on the outskirts of the village. --Brother- A term often used to mean brother-in-law. Sometimes, to make clear which is meant, a real brother is referred to as 'my own brother". also applies to sister. --Buried, partly- An expression that indicates the heart is buried in one place and the body in another, usually by directions of a will. --Chanceling- An illegitimate child ( Merrybegot was another term used) --Chapman- A buyer or seller of goods, often itinerant --Cottar- Tenant of a cottage, with or without a small piece of land --Cousin- A term formerly loosely used, and often meaning a niece or a nephew. --Creature- A baptismal name bestowed...more likely when a name had not been chosen and the baby was not expected to survive. It is from the Latin "Creatura Christi" , which was sometimes in the wording of the registry --Daughter-in-law- In old records it is liable to mean Step-daughter. Also, a daughter-in-law is often called "daughter --Father-in-law- Often used for Step-father, also applies to mother-in-law. A Father-in-law often called father --German- A cousin german is a first cousin, child of an aunt or uncle. Brothers and sisters german have the same parents. --Greensickness- Anemia --Half-baptized- christened privately, not in a church, being necessitated by the weakened state of a baby who might not survive to reach the church. The child was baptized with the understanding that if the child survived, the parents would bring it to the church. *Occasionally both ceremonies were entered in the registry,but private baptisms were one cause of the baptismal registers being the worst kept.* In extreme urgency, the midwife could baptize the child. --Herd- used of a person, it means a shepherd or herdsman. --Infant- child under age 7 Lynn PRETTYMAN in Baltimore, MD USA [email protected]