>".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. The plural of brother, usually brethren so big brother and brother in law are to look after the younger brothers. >Jerome was the son of Thomas Thornton of Great > > >1. Why does Jerome will say "Mr Thomas" instead of >just "Thomas" ? Could it be that he wasn't >Jerome's brother? #Mr' is an honorific - presumably Mr Thomas is either rich, nobly bred (in Vis Ped, so he is) or in an important position about the court, or any combination. > > > >2. I never before encountered the use of >"bretheren" (once capitalized and once not to add >more confusion). simple plural > Elsewhere in the will Jerome uses >the normal "my brother Henry Thornton" singular form >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? yes -= either husband of sister or wife's brother is a 'brother' just as much as an own sibling -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society