- Ab Nepos
- a great-great-grandson
- Ab Neptis
- a great-great-granddaughter
- Abcpsia
- blindness
- Abeyance
- a condition of undetermined ownership, as of an estate that has not yet been assigned
- Abstract
- a statement summarizing the essential facts contained in a document or record
- Abtstract Book
- record books containing abstracts of the information contained on deeds or land entries, usually listed in alphabetical order by surname of the purchasers
- Accelerated
- an index prepared by computer, such as a census index
- Accomptant
accountant
- Action
- a proceeding in a court of law
- Administration
management and settlement of an estate
- Administrator
- an appointee of the court who settles the estate of a deceased who died without leaving a will
- Administrator’s Bond
- a bond posted by an administrator to guarantee the proper performance of his duties
- Administratrix
- a female administrator
- Aegrotantem
- illness, sickness
- Affidavit
- a written and signed statement sworn in front of a court officer
- Ague
- recurring fever and chills of malaria
- Ahnentafel
- a table of one’s ancestors, from the German Ahnen (ancestor) and Tafel (table or list)
- Amanuensis
- secretary or stenographer
- Annus
- year
- Apoplexy
- stroke
- Archives
- reference to the storage of older records
- Artificer
- soldier mechanic who does repairs
- Ascendant
- ancestor
- Ashman
- shipman or sailor
- Assignee
- the person to whom a privilege or some property is signed over to by the court
- Assignor
- the person who signs over a right or property to another
- Assistant Marshall
- the census taker prior to 1880
- Bad Blood
- syphilis
- Banns
- publication or posting of the announcement of a coming marriage, a period of time before the actual marriage to allow advance notice to those that might have reason to protest. In most churches the banns were read aloud on three successive Sundays.
- Baptizavi
- I baptized
- Barrister
- lawyer
- Bequest
- legacy; usually a gift of real estate by will
- Bilious fever
- fever caused by liver disorder
- Black Death
- typhus
- Black Lung
- disease from breathing coal dust
- Bloody Flux
- dysentery
- Boluter
- a sieve
- Bond
- a written promise by a borrower to pay a lender a fixed dollar sum of interest for a prescribed period of time and to repay the principal on a stated date
- Boniface
- innkeeper
- Borough
- a self-governing incorporated town, larger than a village
- Bounty Land
- public land given by the government to induce young men to join the military
- Bounty Land Warrant
- a gift of bounty land due to a person entitled by military service, or to his heirs or assignees
- Brand Iron
- the cob irons or fire dogs which confine the brands on an open hearth
- Brazier
- works with brass
- Bright’s Disease
- kidney disease
- Brightsmith
- metal worker
- Brother
- a male sibling, can also be used to show close friendship
- Brownsmith
- copper or brass smith
- Bundling
- to sleep in the same bed while fully clothed, a practiced commonly by engaged couples in early New England
- Burnisher
- polishes or shines metal
- Cadastral
- a public record, survey or map for tax purposes showing ownership and value of land
- Cals
- Certified American Lineage Specialist – a certification of competence in genealogy
- Canon Law
- a law of the church
- Capitation Tax
- tax on people, also called a head tax or poll tax
- Carner
- granary keeper
- Carter
- maker or driver of carts
- Catarrh
- Inflammation of mucous membrane or cerebral hemmorage
- Census
- periodic official tally of the population with details as to ages, sexes, occupations, etc., U.S. Federal censuses have been taken every 10 years since 1790.
- Census Index
- alphabetical listing of names enumerated in a census
- CG
- Certified Genealogist
- Chaffer
- a chaffing dish
- Chandler
- makes or sells candles; retailer of groceries
- Chattels
- personal property, both animate and inanimate
- Chiffonier
- wigmaker
- Chilblain
- swelling of the extremities caused by exposure to cold
- Chin Cough
- Whooping Cough
- Chorea
- disease characterized by convulsions and contortions
- Circiter
- about
- Civitate
- the city of
- Clan
- a social unit in the Scottish Highlands, consisting of a number of families claiming a common ancestor and following the same hereditary leader
- Clarke
- cleric or scribe
- Coat of Arms
- shield with certain distinctive symbols or emblems painted on it in definite fixed colors identifying one person and his direct descendants
- Codicil
- a supplement to a will
- Collateral Ancestor
- an ancestor not in the direct line of ascent, but of the same ancestral family
- Collier
- a coal miner or a coal ship
- Colporteur
- peddler of books
- Common Law
- a man and woman living together in a marital status without legal action. In some states living together for a specified period of time constitutes a legal marriage, even without benefit of legal action.
- Congestive Fever
- Malaria
- Conjugi
- a husband, wife, or spouse
- Connubium
- marriage
- Consanguinity
- blood relationship
- Consumption
- Tuberculosis
- Convey
- transfer property or the title to property
- Conveyance
- a written instrument that transfers title to property from one party to another
- Conveyor
- grantor or seller
- Cooper
- makes and repairs barrels and casks
- Coppice Keeper
- one who takes care of small wood
- Cordwainer
- shoemaker
- Cousin
- In colonial usage, it most often meant nephew or niece. In the broadest sense, it could also mean any familial relationship, blood or otherwise (except mother, father, sister, or brother), or the modern-day meaning of a child of one’s aunt or uncle. Modern usage includes qualifiers such as first, second, third, once removed, twice removed, etc.
- Cramp Colic
- appendicitis
- Crayman
- driver of a cart carrying heavy loads
- Cretinism
- congenital hypothyroidism
- Crop Sickness
- overextended stomach
- Croup
- laryngitis, diphtheria, or strep throat
- Crowner
- coroner
- Cui
- of whom, of whose, of whatever person, of what place/country
- Culler
- gelder of male animals
- Currier
- tans leather; uses curry comb on horses
- Curtesy
- the life tenure which by common law is held by a man over the property of his deceased wife and has by her issue born alive who is capable of inheriting her estate; in this case, on the death of his wife, he holds the lands for his life, as tenant by courtesy
- Cutler
- one who makes or sells knives, etc.
- Debility
- Abnormal bodily weakness or feebleness; decay of strength. Descriptive term of a patient’s condition and of no help in making a diagnosis. Synonym: asthenia.
- Dareman
- dairyman
- Decedent
- the deceased individual
- Decem
- ten, in Latin
- Declaration of Intention
- document filed by an alien in a court of record declaring his intention to apply for citizenship after fulfillment of the residency requirement. It may also be used to refer to an intent to marry, usually filed with the town clerk.
- Deed
- document signed, sealed, and delivered according to the law conveying title to real estate
- De Jure
- legal term for “by law” or “lawfully”
- Delirium Tremens
- hallucinations due to alcoholism
- Demography
- the study of the characteristics of human populations, such as size, growth, density, distribution and vital statistics
- Denizen
- a foreigner permitted certain rights of citizenship
- Deposition
- a written testimony by a witness for use in court in his or her absence
- Descendant
- an immediate or remote offspring
- Devise
- to transmit property by will
- Devisee
- one to whom a devise is made
- Die
- day
- Diptheria
- an acute infectious disease acquired by contact with an infected person or a carrier of the disease. It was usually confined to the upper respiratory tract (throat) and characterized by the formation of a tough membrane (false membrane) attached firmly to the underlying tissue that would bleed if forcibly removed. In the nineteenth century the disease was occasionally confused with scarlet fever and croup.
- Direct Heir
- one who is in an individual’s direct line of ascent or descent
- Distributee
- one entitled to a share in the estate of a person who died intestate
(without a will)
- Diviner
- one who finds water under the ground
- Domo
- to master or subdue a home, residence, or family
- Dornix
- linsey wolsey; also a heavy damask linen having a diaper figure (flowered or figured) formerly much used for church vestments, altar hangings, etc.
- Dowager
- a widow who holds title or property derived from her dead husband
- Dower
- the part of interest of a deceased man’s real estate alloted by law to his widow
- Dowry
- property a bride brings to her husband for the duration of a marriage
- Dowser
- finds water under the ground
- Draper
- dealer in cloth and dry goods
- Drayman
- drives a cart carrying heavy loads
- Dresser
- surgeon’s assistant in a hospital
Dropsya
contraction for hydropsy. The presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid. Congestive heart failure edema Dropsy of the Brain. – Encephalitis
Drover
drives animals to market; dealer in cattle
Drummer
traveling salesman
Duffer
peddler
Dysentery
Inflammation of intestinal membrane
Dyspepsia
Acid indigestion
D.S.P.
died sine prole – died without offspring
Eadem
same
Eam
she
Ecclescia
church
Ego –I
Ejus
he
Ejusdem
of the same
Encephalitis
swelling of the brain, aka sleeping sickness
Enteritis
inflammation of the bowels
Enumeration – process by which persons are counted for purposes of a census
Enumerator – census taker
Eodem – to the same place/person/day
Episcopus
bishop
Escheat
property reverted to the state when no legal heirs or claimants exist
Est
is
Estate
the whole of one’s possessions; especially all the property left by a deceased person
Et
and – both
Etiam
also, besides, again
Et Ux, Et Uxor and wife
Ex
from
Executor
the person named in a will to carry out the provisions of the will
Executrix
a female executor
Farrier
horse doctor, blacksmith who shoes horses
Fatty Liver
cirrhosis
Fee Simple
estate of land which the inheritor has unqualified ownership and power of disposition
Filiam
daughter
Filium
son
Final Papers
petition for citizenship with supporting documentation filed by an alien in a court of law
Firelands
a tract of land in northeastern Ohio reserved by Connecticut for its own settlers when it ceded its western lands in 1786. The State of Connecticut deeded land there to its citizens whose homes were burned during the Revolutionary War, therefore, the terrirory became known as “fire land.”
First Papers
declaration of intention filed by an alien in a court of law
Fletcher
makes bows and arrows
Flux
discharge of fluid from the body
Forebear
an ancestor, a forefather
Fortnight 14 days
Framar farmer
Freeborn
born as a free person
Freedman/woman
a man or woman who has been freed from bondage or slavery
Freeholder
one who holds land by fee simple. In colonial times, a freeholder had the right to vote and hold public office.
Freeman
one who held the full rights of citizenship, such as voting and engaging in business (as opposed to an indentured servant)
Friends c
orrectly called “The Society of Friends”, the correct term for the Quakers
Fuere
were
Fuller
cleans and thickens cloth
Gaoler
jailer
Galloping Consumption
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Gentile
a person who is not Jewish
Gentleman
a member of the gentry, a descendant from an aristocratic family whose income came from the rental of his land
Ginerr
joiner
Glandular Fever
mononucleosis
Glover
dealer or maker of gloves
Godfather
a man or woman who sponsors a child at baptism, also called a Godparent
Goodman
a solid member of the community who ranked above a freeman but below a gentleman on the social scale
Goods and Chattels
personal property, as distinguished from real property
Goodwife
a woman married to a “gentlman.” Often the title was shortened to “Goody.” If you come across names such as Goody Cook or Goody Loomis, they are not first names but the abbreviation of a title
Grant to transfer property by a deed
Grantee one to whom a grant is made
Grantee Index
index to grantees of deeds recorded in a deed book
Grecher
grocer
Green Sickness
Anemia
Gregorian Calendar
the calendar in use today. Pope Gregory XIII ordered the replacement of the previous Julian Calendar in 1582, although it was not adopted by England and the American Colonies until 1752.
Gripe
Influenza
Guardian
an appointee of the court who cares for the property and rights of a minor or someone incapable of handling his or her own affairs
Guilder
makes gold or silver coins
Gutte
gutter or drain pipe
Haeretica
heretical
Hansard
weapon maker of seller
Hawker
peddler
Headborough
constable
Headright
right to a certain number of acres (usually 50) of land guaranteed in advance for each settler in a new territory
Head Tax
tax on people, also called a poll tax or capitation tax
Heir
a person who inherits, or is entitled by law to inherit, the estate of another
Hereditaments
property that can be inherited
Heraldry
the practice of devising, blazoning, and granting armorial insignia (coats of arms)
Hibernia Ireland
High Sheriff
the highest ranking sheriff, as opposed to deputy sheriffs. This term was popular in England and Colonial America.
Hillard/Hiller
one who covers houses with slate
Hind
farm laborer
Holographic Will
a document written entirely by the hand of the person whose signature it bears
Hostler
takes care of horses at an inn
Huc
here, to this place
Huckster
sells small articles
Hujus of this
Hujusidem of this month and year
Husbandman a person whose occupation is in husbandry; a farmer
Hutch a chest, box coffer, or bin
Immens to be near
Imminens
eminent, immediate
Impositum
the name bestowed
Impressment
the act of seizing people or property for public service or use.
The practice of forcibly inducting men into military service
Indenture
a deed, contract, or sealed agreement executed between two or more parties; a contract by which a person is bound over for services
Indentured Servant
one who was voluntarily or involuntarily committed to working for someone for a fixed number of years (usually 4 to 7) in exchange for passage to America or some other financial advantage (i.e., learning a trade). An indentured servant had few, if any, rights, but people without skills or money accepted this position in order to emigrate. After the period of work was over, the servant usually became a freeman. It was also common practice for parents to indenture their children with the intent of having their child learn a trade or craft.
Infant
a minor
Infantem
child
Infantile Paralysis
polio
Infra
down, below
In-Law
colonists used this term for any familial relationship that occurred from a marriage. Thus, a woman’s father-in-law could be her husband’s father or her stepfather. Her son-in-law could be her daughter’s husband or her own stepson.
Inprimis
in the first place
Inqus
repeat, maintain
Ipsius
in person, of own accord
Instrument
a formal document such as a deed or a will
Intestate
having no legal will; not disposed of by legal will
Inventory
a list of goods in the estate of a deceased person
Ironmonger
dealer in iron goods
Issue
offspring or children
Jail Fever
typhus
Jaundice
condition caused by blockage of the intestines
Journeyman
craftsman hired day by day
Julian Calendar the calendar in use prior to 1752 (see Gregorian Calendar), created by Julius Caesar
Junior, Senior
these terms were used in early times to differentiate between men (and sometimes women) with the same name whether they were related or not. These titles were not permanent, but rather conveniences in colonial families and communities.
Keeler
a cooler, a broad shallow wooden vessel, where milk was set to cream or wait to cool
Keller
salt keeper
Kellogg
slaughter man
Kilderkin
a small vessel, the eighth part of a tun or vat
Kindred
a group of blood-related persons
Kith and Kin
friends and neighbors
Lands and Tenements
real property, as opposed to personal property
Lardner
official in charge of pig food
Legacy money or property bequeathed to someone by will
Lineal Descendant being in the direct line of descent from an ancestor
Lock Jaw tetanus
Loco to place, establish, give in marriage
Locus place
Loyalist a Tory (person who remained loyal to England during the Revolutionary War) who later moved to Canada or to another British possession
Lung Fever pneumonia
Lung Sickness
tuberculosis
Malster
brewer of malted beverages (beer)
Mania
insanity
Manumission
a formal written act to free slaves
Marriage Bond
a document executed to guarantee that no legal or moral impediments existed to an intended marriage
Master
today would be known as The Captain
Mayer
physician
Mensis
month
Miasma
poisonous vapors thought to infect the air
Milk Sickness
disease from the milk from cattle which had eaten poisonous weeds
Millwright
one who designs or builds mills
Mockadow
moccado – stuff made of wood and silk and apparently a mixture of either with flax, a substitute for more expensive velvet
Morsal
Gangrene
Mortaility Schedule
the enumeration of deaths during the 12 months preceding census day, Mortality Schedules were included in the U.S. Census from 1850 – 1900 (1890 and 1900 schedules have been destroyed)
Mortis
death
Mr.
a title that could only precede the names of gentlemen, clergymen, or government officials
Mrs.
a feminine equivalent of Mr., it did not denote marital status, but social position (women of the aristocracy)
Mulierem woman
Myelitis inflammation of the spine
Myocarditits inflammation of the heart muscles
Natum
born
Naturalize to grant full citizenship to one of foreign birth
Necrology register book of deaths
Necrosis mortification of bones or tissue
NEHGS New England Historic Genealogy Society; the oldest genealogical society in the United States
Nepritis inflammation of the kidneys
NGS National Genealogical Society
Nuncupative Will an oral will declared by the deceased before dying, in the presence of witnesses
Notary a person officially authorized to draw up or attest to contracts, wills, deeds, or similar documents
Novem nine
Now Wife exclusively found in wills, this term implied that there was a former (or ex-) wife
Nupr -A -AE bride, wife
Nuber Huc Adventis recently arrived here
Oath of Abjuration sworn statement renouncing a former allegiance
Ob before, in front of, because of, on account of
Obit died
Octo eight
Oppido town
Ordinary public house or tavern
Osler bird catcher
Outrider mounted attendant riding before or behind a carriage
Packman itinerant peddler
Paleography the study of ancient forms of writing
Palatinate the area west of the Rhine River in West Germany
Palsy paralysis or loss of muscle control
Parochus rector, pastor
Paroxysm convulsion
Patritius paternal
Patronymic a name derived from a paternal ancestor, such as “Johnson, the son of John”
Paucis Hebdomadibus a few weeks
Pedigree recorded ancestry or line of descent
Pedigree Chart a standard genealogical form for recording several generations of ancestry
Peel a long handled broad shovel used for putting bread into an oven
Peever pepper seller
Per for
Personal Property property other than land
Per Stirpes a method of dividing an estate so that children act as a group, rather than individually, taking what their deceased ancestor was entitled to
Pleurisy Inflammation of the lung
Podagra gout
Population Schedule a completed population census questionnaire
Posthumous born after father’s death
Porcher pig keeper
Porter gate-keeper or door-keeper
Pott’s Disease tuberculosis of the spinal vertebrae
Pox Syphilis
Praecende previous, preceeding
Prae in front, before, through
Pridie/Priede the previous day
Primary Record a record created at the time of the event (birth, marriage, death, etc.) as opposed to records written years later
Primogenitor the earlies known ancestor or forefather
Primogeniture the right of the eldest child (especially the son) to inherit the estate of both parents
Probate legal establishment of the validity of a will
Procurant stand instead of, proxy
Procuratorem in behalf of
Progeny children
Progenitor an originator of a line of descent, frequently used in reference to the immigrant ancestor
Purrell made of a lace called purl
Putrid Fever diptheria or typhus
Quaker a member of the Society of Friends
Quarryman stonecutter
Quarta four
Quearne a handmill for grinding grain or seed
Qui who, whereby
Quinque five
Redemptioner a colonial emigrant from Europe to North America who paid for his voyage by serving as a bondservant for a specified period of time after arrival
Relict widow, sometimes a widower
Revenuer federal officer enforcing the law against illegal manufacturing of whiskey
Rickets disease of the skeletal system
Rower builder of small wagon wheels
Sawyer sawer of wood
Scarlet Fever disease characterized by a red rash and sore
Screws Rheumatism
Scrivener scribe or clerk
Scrofula tuberculosis of the neck lymph nodes
Secondary Record or secondary source; a record created some time after the event
Septem seven
Sepulchered buried
Servus/A Servarum servant/servants
Sewer tailor or shoemaker
Sex six
Ship’s Fever Typhus
Sibling a brother or sister
Softening of the Brain apoplexy
Soundex a filing system, usually for recording surnames, using one letter followed by three numbers. The Soundex system keeps together names of the same and/or similar sounds, but of variant spellings.
Spotted Fever typhus, cerebrospinal meningitis fever
Spouse a husband or wife
St. Vitus Dance Nervous twitches, chorea
Standard a chest; the upright stem or support of a lamp or candlestick
Stupuet a stew pan or skillet
Sutler accompanies troops in the field or garrison and sells food, drink, and supplies
Sweating Sickness infectious & fatal disease common to the UK in the 15th century
Taper candlewick maker or seller
Tarletan a thin, stiff, transparent muslin
Testament the disposition of one’s personal property by will
Testate having made or left a valid will
Testator a man who died leaving a valid will
Testatrix a female who died leaving a valid will
Thirdborough tithing man or deputy constable
Thoro marriage, union
Tinker itinerant mender of kettles and pans
Tithable person subject to a tax
Tolvet a measure, holding half a bushel
Tory a resident of the American Colonies who remained loyal to England during the Revolutionary War (see Loyalist)
Toxemia of Pregnancy eclampsia (high blood pressure & seizures)
Transientibus in transit form, traveling
Tres three
Tribus Mensibus three months
Tripper dancer
Truckle Bed trundle bed with casters to run under a higher bed
Trug a basket with fixed handle like an old american woven wooden grape basker
Trustee a person or agent holding the legal title to property
Tunnel a funnel
Turnout an equippage, a carriage with horses, attendants, and equipment
Ultimo last
Unus one
Uxor wife, the married state
Venesection Bleeding
Vero certainly, to be sure
Vincinitate neighboring area
Viper’s Dance St. Vitus’ Dance, chorea
Visitation a visit for the purpose of making an official inspection or examination. This term was used to describe census activities.
Vitner wine merchant
Wheelwright
a person who builds wagon wheels
Whitcher
maker of chests
Whitlow
Boil
Will
the legal document containing the statement of a person’s wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after death
Winter Fever
pneumonia
Yellow Jacket
Yellow Fever
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