This was forward by "Jean Dalrymple" to another list that I belong to and thought that the list might enjoy it!! >The following is paraphrased from the National >Genealogical Society's "American Genealogy: A Basic Course": >In-Laws: terms like father-in-law, mother-in-law, etc. had the same meaning >as they do today, which is a kinship by marriage. However, they may also >have had different meanings. Father-in-law could refer to a step-father, >son-in-law to a stepchild, etc. >Cousin: The term "cousin" was once used generally to indicate almost ANY >DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP BY BLOOD OR MARRIAGE OUTSIDE THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY. >VERY EARLY IN AMERICAN HISTORY THE TERM WAS USED TO REFER TO NEPHEW OR >NIECE. When you see the word cousin used in early records, you will need to >do more research to clarify the relationship between the two people. >Nephew: The terms nephew and niece were not in common use in the colonies >until before the mid-eighteenth century (i.e. 1750's). The term cousin was >used to denote this relationship. In rare instances, the term "nephew" was >used to mean grandson or granddaughter because the word comes from the >Latin term for "grandson" or "nepos." During this early period, "nephew" >was used for males and females. >Brother: This term was used very generally and in addition to its obvious >meaning, could denote a brother-in-law, a husband of a sister-in-law, a >half-brother, a stepbrother, or even a colleague within the church. >"My now wife." This term is sometimes found in a will and may, as is >often assumed, indicate the testator had a former wife, but this is not >necessarily so unless he is referring to children by a first wife and >children by his current or "now" wife. When the term is used WITHOUT >reference to children, it more usually means the testator intends the >bequest for his current wife and not any subsequent he may have. >Senior and Junior: Terms to denote two men with the same in the same >community, regardless of any relationship. This could be father and son, >Uncle and nephew, or two men not related at all. Upon the death of the >"Senior" the junior could be dropped or if another, younger person had the >same name, Junior became Senior, etc. >Natural Son or Natural Daughter: indicates a blood relationship as >distinguished from a relationship by marriage or adoption. Sometimes it >could denote an illegitimate child, though it was more common to refer >to such as "my base son" or "my bastard son". In some instances, "my >natural child" may indicate children by a first wife as opposed to >children >by a current wife. > >Aliases: This term could mean one of several things. An orphan may have >used his stepfather's surname in addition to his own. A married man may >have taken the surname of his wealthy father-in-law. One son in a family >may have taken his mother's maiden name, especially when inheriting property >from her family. One branch of the family may have used an alias to >distinguish it from other branches in the area where the name was common. A >person may have used an alias to distinguish himself from several uncles and >cousins with the same name. This problem was not unusual in large families >before the use of middle names adopted. In some cases, an alias indicated >illegitimacy. Because of all the possible reasons for the use of an alias, >do not assume the reason until you have done further research. >Given Names: Although you cannot count on it, it was common for the two >eldest sons to be named for their grandfathers and two eldest daughters to >be named for their grandmothers. Don't be confused by finding two children >with the same given name in the same family. The name of a deceased child >may have been given to a subsequent child. IN GERMAN ANCESTRY it was common >for ALL sons to have the first name Johann and all daughters to have the >first name Anna or Maria. The children were known by their second names. > Betty Lou Riley In Southern OH, USA List Owner for: OHAdams-L, KYGreenu-L, KYLewis-L, and McGovney-L Instructions at: <http://www.zoomnet.net/~chipmunk/SurnamesMail.html> CC:/CCA:KY Greenup Co. CCA:KY Lewis Co. Boards Admin.for Adams Co.,OH