Re the "son in law" issue - I've seem mentioned on other lists that this expression was sometimes used to mean a child that was adopted (in the days before the formal legal adoption system that we have now was created). So the child belonged to the parents "in law" rather than "by birth". A bit like illegitimate children being "natural"...even though in those pre-IVF days presumably all children were natural! David Wilkins -----Original Message----- From: DShepp5529@aol.com [mailto:DShepp5529@aol.com] Sent: 26 June 2004 15:33 To: ISLE-OF-WIGHT-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: ISLE-OF-WIGHT-D Digest V04 #130 In a message dated 6/25/2004 9:01:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ISLE-OF-WIGHT-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: Thanks to those who replied off list re bap . General opinion favoured son in law as meaning step son . Can't see how myself .. the exact entry reads ' This day James Breton son in law to John Archibald and his spouse Marion Archibald had a son bap named David' I know mothers were sometimes left off bap details this isn't a problem . I am just wondering if perhaps the Minister put down the in laws in lieu of the mother not being documented ? If I am missing something I'd appreciate someone enlightening me Angela