Old Genealogy Terms

• AB INITIO - (Latin) A reference to the beginning of like a deed, estate or marriage
• AB INTESTATE - (Latin) Receiving an inheritance from someone who died without a will
• ABUTTAL - a common boundary (the meeting of two properties)
• ACCOMODATION – An allotment of land to a family
• AD HOC - (Latin) For a special purpose or reason
• ADMEASURE – The division of ones inherited shares of a dower, estate, property, money or other
• ADMEASUREMENT of DOWER – The adjusting of a dower (Giving the full share back to the child heir rather than what was set aside for a guardian)
• ADMINISTRATION – The settling of an estate (This can be with or without a will)
• ADMINISTRATOR – Person appointed to oversee the settlement of the estate by will or appointment by a judge.
• AD VERBATIM – (Latin) As written or in full
• ADVERSE POSSESION – The actual possession of a property by a person not having title
• AFFIDAVIT - A sworn statement while under oath
• AGE of CONSENT - Age at which you can marry without parental consent, it varied by state
• AGE of MAJORITY – More a sign of maturity rather than age, when one could handle their own affairs
• ANCESTORS – Who you are descended from in a direct line
• ANNO DOMINI - (Latin) The year of our Lord, the start of many legal documents showing an honor or respect for God
• APPRAISAL – The valuation of the goods owned by a deceased person normally ordered by a court regardless of the person leaving a will for the final sale of all property
• ATTEST – The certification or affirmation of something
• BAILIWICK – The authority or district of a bailiff  (The area of his jurisdiction
• BASTARD – Illegitimate child one born out of wedlock
• BECK – (Old English) – Small brook or creek
• BEQUEST – A gift or inheritance given in a will
• BINDING OUT – In Colonial America churchwardens, government officials and guardians were able to bind out or contract into servitude an individual. Many times it was a young person who worked in return for learning a trade.
• BIRTHRIGHT – The practice of giving the first born male child a double share of the inheritance, a custom brought over from Europe and continued in America until the Civil War
• BONA – (Latin) Meaning in good faith
• BOND – An agreement or promise to which one is bound
• BONDMAID – A female slave
• BONDMAN – A male slave
• BOND SERVANT – Simply an indentured servant
• BONDSMAN – A person liable for payment to the court if a defendant does not appear for a hearing
• BOUND OUT – (See BINDING OUT)
• BURGESS – (Colonial America) The first governing body formed a Jamestown
• CANNON LAW – Laws of the church
• Carte de Visite - A type of photograph, normally an albumen print popular between 1860 -1880
• CERTIFIED COPY – A true copy of an original certified or verified to be an exact duplicate
• CHATTELS – A term for personal property slaves and livestock were considered chattels

• CHILD of TENDER YEARS – usually a child less than 14 years of age
• CHRISTIAN NAME – A given name, other than ones last name
• CHRISTENING – The Baptism of an infant or small child
• CHRISTYDE – The coming of the new year
• CHURCH WARDEN – An unpaid member of the Vestry or assistant to a pastor much like a church elder of today
• CIRCA –  (Latin) An approximate date or year
• CIVIL WAR – War of the rebellion 1861-1865
• COAL OIL – Kerosene or lamp oil, previously distilled from mineral wax, often used for medicinal purposes such as swabbing inflamed tonsils
• COAT of ARMS – A shield containing symbols and emblems, contrary to popular belief it was bestowed or granted to an individual not a family, it was passed to direct descendants and each generation would add or modify it slightly thereby identifying that generation of a family
• CODICIL – An addition to a will, usually included at the end of the will when the maker of the will has changed his mind about his last wishes, many times a child or relative would have what was given in the main body of the will taken away
• COLLATERAL LINES – Descent from the same common ancestor, but a different line like an aunt, uncle or cousin
• COMMON LAW MARRIAGE – Two people presenting themselves as man and wife without a civil or religious ceremony
• CONFEDERACY – Southern States that seceded from the Union 1861-1865
• CONSORT – A term describing a spouse commonly referring to a female, it could be a male if the female had a higher title. Example: Prince Albert Consort of Queen Victoria            
• CONVEY – To give or transfer title of property to another
• DAGUERREOTYPE – A photographic process invented by L.M. Daguerre
• DE ANNO IN ANNUM  (Latin) – From Year to Year
• DECEASED – Someone who has died
• DEED POLE – A deed made only by one person
• DE FACTO (Latin) – Meaning in fact
• DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY – The degree of blood relationship used to determine a right of inheritance in a court
• DE JURE (Latin) – By right …the legal accomplishment of something
• DESCENDANT- Anyone to whom you are an ancestor…children, grandchildren etc.
• DEVISE – A gift of real property via a will
• DEVISEE – A person receiving property
• DEVISOR – A person giving property  
• DIRECT LINE – A line of decent through individuals who are related
• DIRK – A straight knife with a handle
• DIVINATION – The act of foretelling the future by divine powers
• DOUBLE TREE -  Equalizing bar for horses
• DOWER – Provision made by right of law or by will for the wife to receive one third of an estate
• DOWER RIGHT – The right of a wife to one third of all assets…A deed often required the wife to give up or relinquish freely any claim or title she might have
• DOWRY – Any type of property real, or personal brought by a bride to her husband by their marriage
• ESTATE – The whole of ones property all assets
• EXECUTOR – A person appointed by the maker of a will to carry out his wishes when he dies
• EXECUTRIX – A female executor of a will
• EX FACTO (Latin) given by deed
• EXTANT – A state of existence not missing or destroyed
• FAILURE OF ISSUE – In a will or deed in the event there are no children born or that survive the deceased the property or assets are conveyed to another party
• FAN – Drive the chaff from a crop by a current of air
• FEE SIMPLE – A non conditional inheritance, a complete inheritance with no stipulations
• FLAIL OR FLAILED – Hand thresh with a wooden handle with a shorter stick attached
• FREE MAN OF COLOR – A black man who was born free or became free later in life
• FULL AGE – The age of majority when one reached legal age, it varied by state and by circumstance