Bob: At the time of this will, "bretheren" or "brethren" was simply an alternative plural of "brother" and so meant "brothers"; and a "brother" could be either what we now call a brother or what we now call a brother-in-law. Best wishes Paul Prescott ----- Original Message ----- From: "bob2626" <bob2626@charter.net> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 12:13 PM Subject: [OEL] Puzzling Use Of "Bretheren" in 1578 Will > Thanks to Chris Phillps' gracious and competent > help I have this transcription of a portion of the > 1578 will of Jerome Thornton, Yeoman of Greenford, > Middlesex: > > > > ".Item I give and bequeath unto my Bretheren Mr > Thomas Thorneton and Mr Robert Dorsett to eyther > of them eight pounds for and towards the Chardge > wch they shalbe at in the bringinge upp my other > twoo bretheren Richard and Roberte Thorneton nowe > wth them uppon." > > > > Use of the word "bretheren" in this passage > puzzling. > > > > First ,some background info and then my questions. > > > > Jerome was the son of Thomas Thornton of Great > Greenford who died in 1573. I compare the list of > Thomas' children from his will with that from the > pedigree by Richard Mundy (Harleian Society, > Volume 65, MIDDLESEX PEDIGREES, London 1914 > (available as CD290 from Quintin Publications at > www.quintinpublications.com > <http://www.quintinpublications.com/> ): > > > > > 1573 Thomas Will > > Mundy Middlesex Pedigree > > > Elizabeth > > > > > Catherine > > > > > Margaret > > Margaret > > > Dorothy > > > > > Katherine Parson* > > > > > John > > > > > Richard > > > > > Robert > > > > > Peter > > Peter > > > Edward > > Edward > > > Henry > > Henry > > > Jerome > > Jeromy > > > > > Petronell > > > > > Mary > > > > > Thomas > > > > Note that Mundy has a son Thomas but the 1573 will > doesn't include him. > > > > My questions: > > > > 1. Why does Jerome will say "Mr Thomas" instead of > just "Thomas" ? Could it be that he wasn't > Jerome's brother? > > > > 2. I never before encountered the use of > "bretheren" (once capitalized and once not to add > more confusion). Elsewhere in the will Jerome uses > the normal "my brother Henry Thornton" and "my > sonne." Anyone have a theory on that? > > > > 3. Why does Jerome include "Mr Robert Dorsett" as > part of "Bretheren" when his surname is not > Thornton. Could he have been a brother in law? > > > > Best regards to all, > > > > Bob Thornton > > Duluth, Georgia > > USA > > bob2626@charter.net > > > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.745 / Virus Database: 497 - Release Date: 27-08-2004