I have seen the term "friends" used in literature to mean, more or less, all persons well-acquainted with and having a concern for the individual in question. Example: in Charlotte Bronte's classic, "Jane Eyre" , she has someone speculate that Jane, upon appearing in desperate plight, may have had some disagreement with her friends. In this context it would seem to indicate principally family members. Of course this is a Victorian usage, but it may have stemmed from an earlier use of the term. Susan in Missouri -----Original Message----- ================================================================= I have encountered the use of the word "friends" in a 1741 Sussex will, in which the subject of the will used "friends" to chaaracterize his co-executors. Subsequent research has led to one of John's "introductory red flags".....i.e. it appears that one of the executors might be a brother, and the wife of the other executor a sister of the subject of the will. Is there precedent (or other evidence) of such usage of the word "friends" in Colonial times. If one merely accepts the current literal usage of friends, there would seem to be no necessity of having used the word in the will at all (& the use did not appear to be Colonial "flowery"....the entire will was brief and prosaic). Thus it may be reasonable to try to read some "special" meaning in to the usage in the will ??????? Comments??? Joe Lake *************************************** 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