Hi everyone, I'm looking for the meaning of the terms, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, in Virginia in the 1760's. Are the meanings the same as today? Thanks, Marla
Hi, Marla. Probably more of an answer than you really want, nevertheless: It is said that those words had a broader meaning in Colonial times, though I have found almost NO examples beyond what we still say, of any such usage within the law reports. For sure, the words meant - as now - a man or woman married to a child of the subject person. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine any other common usage, since adoption was unknown until 1912, and I think that wards or apprentices were never so labeled. Still, generically one's "in-laws" were anyone related to the subject person through marriage or by through any action of law. Hence, it was also considered that, for example, the widow or widower of a child was yet an "in-law", though the legal relationship had been extinguished by the death of that child. Similarly, aunts, uncles and cousins of one's spouse were related through the law of marriage, hence likely - again, as now - those aunts-in-law, uncles-in-laws, etc., were now and then so called. Perhaps also children by a previous marriage of a person now married to a child of the subject might also be\have been branded as "in-laws". Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: m.moore1 To: VA-SOUTHSIDE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 5:45 PM Subject: [VA-SOUTHSIDE-L] Explanation Hi everyone, I'm looking for the meaning of the terms, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, in Virginia in the 1760's. Are the meanings the same as today? Thanks, Marla ==== VA-SOUTHSIDE Mailing List ==== The USGenWeb Project http://www.usgenweb.org Do Not Post Chain Letters, Virus Warnings, etc. to this list. This list is for Genealogy, History and Related Topics. ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/206 - Release Date: 12/16/2005