> CONFUSING DEFINITIONS in history: > Mistress - Not necessarily a married woman. A term of respect for any > married woman. > Gentleman - Might be used to describe a retired man of wealth or education. > Housekeeper - Once meant property owner and could be used for male or > female. > Domestic - Once meant a housewife and not necessarily a servant. > Inmate - As used in the Pennsylvania Archives, refers to a man living in the > home of another person - not necessarily a person in an institution. It may > also mean someone who did not own the real estate on which he resided. > Freeman - As used in Pennsylvania Archives, meant a young man not yet > married. > Alias - Usually meant illegitimacy. The surname of the father and mother > were jointed. It did not have a criminal meaning. > Senior or Junior - These terms did not necessarily refer to father and son. > If two men in the same town had the same name, the older was "Senior" and > the younger "Junior" even if they weren't related. In earlier times, a > Father might have done the same in naming his sons. > Niece - This could refer to any female relative but usually a granddaughter. > Nephew - This could refer to an illegitimate son but usually a grandson. > Cousin - A cousin might be a nephew or uncle. > Brother - This term could refer to an adopted brother but could also mean an > in-law or lodge or Church brother. > Domestic - A wife could be called a domestic because she was "at home". > Crazy - Usually meant a person who was ill or in generally poor health, not > necessarily mentally ill. > >