Could any one tell me (politely) what fratribus means. I have come across a burial entry in 1641 which says "Simon Sheraton was a fratribus". I know frater means brother. He had married and had three chidlren, so I don't think he was a monk. Afraid my Latin went pearshaped after the 4th form over 40 years ago! Regards Avril

----- Original Message ----- From: <AvrilSteward@aol.com> To: <ENG-DUR-SUNDERLAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 11:20 AM Subject: [genealogy] [SUNDERLAND] Latin Scholars Please! > Could any one tell me (politely) what fratribus means. I have come across a > burial entry in 1641 which says "Simon Sheraton was a fratribus". I know > frater means brother. > He had married and had three chidlren, so I don't think he was a monk. > > Afraid my Latin went pearshaped after the 4th form over 40 years ago! > Regards > Avril > > Avril, my Latin has been rusting away for close to 60 years now, but here goes! fratribus is the plural dative or ablative case of frater (3rd declension, group III - that comes from a very slow perusal of my son'sCollins Latin English dictionary). So "a fratribus" means "from the brothers". Maybe he had been a monk once? (Or possibly even a failed monk?) If you Google for the phrase "a fratribus" and then cheat by asking for a translation, you should get confirmation of that. eg http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/synopt/ext/papias.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522a%2Bfratribus%2522%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN Another reference describes Judas leaving fratribus apostoli = "his brother disciples". http://www.clues.abdn.ac.uk:8080/bestiary_old/alt/translat/trans65v.html HTH Tim S.