Jnr. and Snr. before 1800 in 'the colonies' Junior and Senior were often used merely to distinguish between two person who lived in the same locality who had the same name, and were of different generations. Sometimes they were related, sometimes not.

Cousin. Until the 1750's cousin was used to indicate any relationship other than the immediate family.

Nephew is a word derived from the Latin nepos meaning grandson. Niece was derived from the word neptis meaning granddaughter. Sometimes, before 1751, the terms meant grandson and granddaughter especially if written in latin form.

Before 1750 "in-law" may have denoted a step relationship eg. son-in-law may have meant stepson.

Brother and Sister? These may have meant a person in the same church.

Alias - may have meant illegitimacy. Especially where two surnames were given joined by Alias

Crazy - May have meant that the person was in poor health and not necessarily that they were mentally ill.

Domestic - Used to mean a housewife rather than a servant.

Housekeeper - Once meant property owner.

Inmate - may have meant someone who was renting or living in a property not owned by him/herself.

Mrs. or Mistress - was a title of social position and did not always mean they were a married woman. in the same way Mr. meant a respected member of the community.

Natural Son - Does not always denote an illegitimate son

Infant - May refer to a minor under the age of 14.

Goody - is a shortened title for Goodwife not a forename. More often used in America. A Goodwife is the spouse of a Goodman which is a title for a respected and solid member of the community who ranked above a Freeman but below a Gentleman on the social scale.

Given 1s in a will - indicated the person had already been provided for and not that the person making the will was mean.

Given a bed - indicated the person was to remain in the deceased's house until death.

Cousin German - means a first cousin i.e. the child of an aunt or uncle.

Yeoman - a farmer who worked his own land (possibly rented)

Husbandman - as a yeoman but with less land - probably needed an additional income so may have worked for others as well.

Backsyde - backyard or outbuildings attached to a house

Hovel - an open shed

Journeyman - a qualified tradesman working for someone else

Pillow beers - an old name for pillow cases

Tenement - An area of land usually containing a building

Privately baptised/publicly baptised - where there was concern that the child would not survive the child could be baptised by the midwife or some other person.

Received into the church - a ceremony where a privately baptised child was welcomed into the church congregation

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