Hi List, I got this in an e-mail a long time ago and thought it would be good to pass this along again. I will be posting this to the other lists I am on so I am sorry if you receive this e-mail more than once. Initials after your ancestor's names may provide useful information that you'd not expect. You may come across these when reading old wills or other documents: Sue in Sunny Florida [email protected] a.a.s. died in the year of his/her age (anno setitis suae) (86 y/o (died in year 86) d.s.p. died without issue (decessit sine prole legitima) d.s.p.l. died without legitimate issue (decessit sine prole mascula supesita) d.s.p.m.s. died without surviving male issue (decessit sine prole mascula supersita) d.s.p.s. died without surviving issue (decessit sine prole supersita) d.unm died unmarried d.v.p. died in the lifetime of his father (decessit vita patris) d.v.m. died in the lifetime of his mother (decessit vita matris) Et al and others (et alia) Inst present month (instans) Liber book or volume Nepos grandson Nunc Nuncapative will, an oral will, written by a witness Ob he/she died (obit) Relict widow or widower (relicta/relictus) Sic so or thus, exact copy as written Testes witnesses Utl late (ultimo) Ux or vs wife (uxor) Viz namely (videlicet)