Hi John, I have been following this thread with great interest. My great X5 grandfather, William Nicholson, died in 1719 in Anne Arundel County. His wife was already deceased and thus, he left 4 young sons, still boys. In his Will, he named "friend" James Nicholson as one of the executors and also for "friend" James Nicholson to arrange for the sale of some of his properties from which "friend" James Nicholson was to use the proceeds to send the boys back to Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, to be raised by two aunts and also to provide money for the support and education of the boys in England. (Two of the boys, including my great X4 grandfather, returned to Maryland to the plantations bequeathed to them, with my great X4 grandfather settling in Chestertown). The reference to "friend" James Nicholson in William Nicholson's Will has (had?) puzzled me because this is a potential clue in solving a family "mystery". My William Nicholson came to South River, Anne Arundel County, about 1699/1700 from Berwick-upon-Tweed, England. His "friend" James Nicholson came to this same South River, Anne Arundel County, from Loanend (a manor and manor house at the time), England, which was (still is) located just a few miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Several sources list William Nicholson (d. 1690), "Gentleman of Berwick-upon-Tweed" (my great X6 grandfather and the father of the William Nicholson who died in 1719 in Anne Arundel County) as the son of George Nicholson of the Manor of Loanend. However, I have not been able to find any definitive proof of this relationship although it would appear likely that there was some family connection since both Nicholsons came from places only a few miles apart in Northumberland, England, and both came to the same small settlement in South River, Anne Arundel County. If my William Nicholson (Sr.) (d. 1690 Berwick-upon-Tweed, England) in fact was the son of George Nicholson of Loanend, then my William Nicholson (d. 1719 AA Co.) and his "friend" James Nicholson of South River, AA Co. MD would have been 1st cousins. But, as I said, the reference to "friend" James Nicholson had puzzled me over the years. Now, I gather from this discussion that my William Nicholson's "friend" James Nicholson indeed could have been his "cousin" James Nicholson. Is this a correct interpretation of this current discussion of the use of the term "friend" in colonial times? Bruce >Well, the Oxford English Dictionary begins its many definitions of >"friend" with a use from the year 1018 (in "Beowulf") under the >meaning of "one joined to another in mutual benevolence and >intimacy, not ordinarily applied to lovers or relatives". It goes >on to many other meanings, including "kinsman or near relation" and >"a mere acquaintance, or a stranger, as a mark of goodwill or kindly >condescension", or "a supporter, patron [etc.]". And then we have >the Quakers. It's also applied to God. > >It's just an all-purpose word for some positive >relationship. Reading a specific meaning into it is just foolhardy. > >John >*************************************** >QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or UNSUBSCRIBING? >Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: >http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word >'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message Bruce L. Nicholson Professor Emeritus Departmentof Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Universityof Maine Orono, Maine Retired and living in Gold Canyon, Arizona

I have done research on a person of Indian and French heritage who had married three times one of these being an Indian marriage". Only two children lived to adult hood one of them being a son of the Indian marriage. The other son preceded him in death and his will he referred to the surviving son as "my friend". This man was very prominent and much research has been done on him and it is a proven fact that this was his son. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce L. Nicholson" <brucen@maine.edu> To: <lower-delmarva-roots@rootsweb.com> Cc: <Johnlyon0@cs.com> Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:37 AM Subject: Re: [LDR] Understanding Cousins: But what about aunts and uncles?? > Hi John, > > I have been following this thread with great interest. > > My great X5 grandfather, William Nicholson, died in 1719 in Anne > Arundel County. His wife was already deceased and thus, he left 4 > young sons, still boys. In his Will, he named "friend" James > Nicholson as one of the executors and also for "friend" James > Nicholson to arrange for the sale of some of his properties from > which "friend" James Nicholson was to use the proceeds to send the > boys back to Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, to be raised by two aunts > and also to provide money for the support and education of the boys > in England. (Two of the boys, including my great X4 grandfather, > returned to Maryland to the plantations bequeathed to them, with my > great X4 grandfather settling in Chestertown). > > The reference to "friend" James Nicholson in William Nicholson's Will > has (had?) puzzled me because this is a potential clue in solving a > family "mystery". My William Nicholson came to South River, Anne > Arundel County, about 1699/1700 from Berwick-upon-Tweed, > England. His "friend" James Nicholson came to this same South River, > Anne Arundel County, from Loanend (a manor and manor house at the > time), England, which was (still is) located just a few miles from > Berwick-upon-Tweed. Several sources list William Nicholson (d. > 1690), "Gentleman of Berwick-upon-Tweed" (my great X6 grandfather and > the father of the William Nicholson who died in 1719 in Anne Arundel > County) as the son of George Nicholson of the Manor of > Loanend. However, I have not been able to find any definitive proof > of this relationship although it would appear likely that there was > some family connection since both Nicholsons came from places only a > few miles apart in Northumberland, England, and both came to the same > small settlement in South River, Anne Arundel County. > > If my William Nicholson (Sr.) (d. 1690 Berwick-upon-Tweed, England) > in fact was the son of George Nicholson of Loanend, then my William > Nicholson (d. 1719 AA Co.) and his "friend" James Nicholson of South > River, AA Co. MD would have been 1st cousins. > > But, as I said, the reference to "friend" James Nicholson had puzzled > me over the years. Now, I gather from this discussion that my > William Nicholson's "friend" James Nicholson indeed could have been > his "cousin" James Nicholson. Is this a correct interpretation of > this current discussion of the use of the term "friend" in colonial times? > > Bruce > > >>Well, the Oxford English Dictionary begins its many definitions of >>"friend" with a use from the year 1018 (in "Beowulf") under the >>meaning of "one joined to another in mutual benevolence and >>intimacy, not ordinarily applied to lovers or relatives". It goes >>on to many other meanings, including "kinsman or near relation" and >>"a mere acquaintance, or a stranger, as a mark of goodwill or kindly >>condescension", or "a supporter, patron [etc.]". And then we have >>the Quakers. It's also applied to God. >> >>It's just an all-purpose word for some positive >>relationship. Reading a specific meaning into it is just foolhardy. >> >>John >>*************************************** >>QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or UNSUBSCRIBING? >>Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: >>http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm >>------------------------------- >>To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word >>'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >>message > > Bruce L. Nicholson > > Professor Emeritus > Departmentof Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology > Universityof Maine > Orono, Maine > > Retired and living in Gold Canyon, Arizona > > > *************************************** > QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or UNSUBSCRIBING? > Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: > http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Friend in French (ami) is very close to beloved (aime). They are pronounced virtually the same also. --- On Thu, 8/21/08, G j Coleman <gwenco@verizon.net> wrote: > From: G j Coleman <gwenco@verizon.net> > Subject: Re: [LDR] "Friends" as relatives > To: lower-delmarva-roots@rootsweb.com > Date: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 11:52 AM > I have done research on a person of Indian and French > heritage who had > married three times one of these being an Indian > marriage". Only two > children lived to adult hood one of them being a son of the > Indian marriage. > The other son preceded him in death and his will he > referred to the > surviving son as "my friend". This man was very > prominent and much research > has been done on him and it is a proven fact that this was > his son. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bruce L. Nicholson" > <brucen@maine.edu> > To: <lower-delmarva-roots@rootsweb.com> > Cc: <Johnlyon0@cs.com> > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:37 AM > Subject: Re: [LDR] Understanding Cousins: But what about > aunts and uncles?? > > > > Hi John, > > > > I have been following this thread with great interest. > > > > My great X5 grandfather, William Nicholson, died in > 1719 in Anne > > Arundel County. His wife was already deceased and > thus, he left 4 > > young sons, still boys. In his Will, he named > "friend" James > > Nicholson as one of the executors and also for > "friend" James > > Nicholson to arrange for the sale of some of his > properties from > > which "friend" James Nicholson was to use > the proceeds to send the > > boys back to Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, to be raised > by two aunts > > and also to provide money for the support and > education of the boys > > in England. (Two of the boys, including my great X4 > grandfather, > > returned to Maryland to the plantations bequeathed to > them, with my > > great X4 grandfather settling in Chestertown). > > > > The reference to "friend" James Nicholson in > William Nicholson's Will > > has (had?) puzzled me because this is a potential clue > in solving a > > family "mystery". My William Nicholson came > to South River, Anne > > Arundel County, about 1699/1700 from > Berwick-upon-Tweed, > > England. His "friend" James Nicholson came > to this same South River, > > Anne Arundel County, from Loanend (a manor and manor > house at the > > time), England, which was (still is) located just a > few miles from > > Berwick-upon-Tweed. Several sources list William > Nicholson (d. > > 1690), "Gentleman of Berwick-upon-Tweed" (my > great X6 grandfather and > > the father of the William Nicholson who died in 1719 > in Anne Arundel > > County) as the son of George Nicholson of the Manor of > > Loanend. However, I have not been able to find any > definitive proof > > of this relationship although it would appear likely > that there was > > some family connection since both Nicholsons came from > places only a > > few miles apart in Northumberland, England, and both > came to the same > > small settlement in South River, Anne Arundel County. > > > > If my William Nicholson (Sr.) (d. 1690 > Berwick-upon-Tweed, England) > > in fact was the son of George Nicholson of Loanend, > then my William > > Nicholson (d. 1719 AA Co.) and his "friend" > James Nicholson of South > > River, AA Co. MD would have been 1st cousins. > > > > But, as I said, the reference to "friend" > James Nicholson had puzzled > > me over the years. Now, I gather from this discussion > that my > > William Nicholson's "friend" James > Nicholson indeed could have been > > his "cousin" James Nicholson. Is this a > correct interpretation of > > this current discussion of the use of the term > "friend" in colonial times? > > > > Bruce > > > > > >>Well, the Oxford English Dictionary begins its many > definitions of > >>"friend" with a use from the year 1018 > (in "Beowulf") under the > >>meaning of "one joined to another in mutual > benevolence and > >>intimacy, not ordinarily applied to lovers or > relatives". It goes > >>on to many other meanings, including "kinsman > or near relation" and > >>"a mere acquaintance, or a stranger, as a mark > of goodwill or kindly > >>condescension", or "a supporter, patron > [etc.]". And then we have > >>the Quakers. It's also applied to God. > >> > >>It's just an all-purpose word for some positive > >>relationship. Reading a specific meaning into it > is just foolhardy. > >> > >>John > >>*************************************** > >>QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or > UNSUBSCRIBING? > >>Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: > >>http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm > >>------------------------------- > >>To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email > to > >>LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the > word > >>'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the > >>message > > > > Bruce L. Nicholson > > > > Professor Emeritus > > Departmentof Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular > Biology > > Universityof Maine > > Orono, Maine > > > > Retired and living in Gold Canyon, Arizona > > > > > > *************************************** > > QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or > UNSUBSCRIBING? > > Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: > > http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the > word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message > > > > *************************************** > QUESTIONS about POSTING GUIDELINES, SUBSCRIBING or > UNSUBSCRIBING? > Visit The Lower DelMarVa Roots Mailing List FAQ: > http://www.tyaskin.com/handley/ldrfaq.htm > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message

Bruce Nicholson wrote: >>> But, as I said, the reference to "friend" James Nicholson had puzzled me over the years. Now, I gather from this discussion that my William Nicholson's "friend" James Nicholson indeed could have been his "cousin" James Nicholson. Is this a correct interpretation of this current discussion of the use of the term "friend" in colonial times?<<< ________________________ Bruce, As I've understood the discussion, use of the term "friend" to refer to someone in a will during the colonial period would not "disqualify" that person from being a "cousin" or other relative of the writer, but you also probably shouldn't go too far in assuming too much from use of the word, without other evidence. As John Lyon indicated in his recent post, "friend" is "just an all-purpose word for some positive relationship. Reading a specific meaning into it is just foolhardy." As an aside, I've been tormented by more than one instance (not yet in Delmarva) of a family living just a few households away from one of "my families," both with the same surname (including, in my case, the surname "NICHOLS"), but without any conclusive material found yet showing that they were related in a meaningful manner -- yet, I assume that they probably (hopefully) were friends. Aggravating, but fun. Dave K