Genealogy Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

abstract

A summary of important points of a given text, especially in deeds and wills

acre

See measurements

administration (of estate)

The collection, managemetn, and distribution of an estate by proper legal process

administrator

The person appointed to manage or dived the estate of a deceased person

administratrix

A female administrator

affidavit

A statement in writing, sworn to, before proper authority

alien

A foreigner

American Revolution

The US war for independence from Great Britain from 1775 to 1783

ancestor

A person from whom you are descended; a forefather

ante

A Latin prefix meaning before, such as in ante-bellum house, a house built before the war

apprentice

One who is bound by indentures, by legal agreement, or by any means to serve another person for a certain time, with a view of learning an art or trade

appurtenance

That which belongs to something else such as a building, orchard, right of way, etc.

archives

1. Records of a government, organization, institution, or individual; 2. The place where records are stored

attest

1. To affirm; 2. To certify by signature or oath

B

banns

Public announcement of intended marriage

beneficiary

One who receives benefit of trust or property

bequeath (verb)

To give personal property to a person in a will

bequest (noun)

A will

bond

Written, signed, witnessed agreement requiring payment of a specified amount of money on or before a given date

bounty land warrant

A right to obtain land, specific number of acres of allocated public land, granded for military service

C

census

The official enumeration, listing or counting of citizens

certified copy

A copy made and attested to by officers having charge of the origingal and authorized to give copies

chain

See measurements

chattel

Personal property which can be include animate as well as inanimate objects

christen

1. To receive or initiate into the visible church by baptism; 2. To give a name to

circa (ca.)

About, near, or approximate; usually referring to a date

Civil War

The war between the North and South in the United States (1861-1865), also known as the "War Between the States"

codicil

An addition to a will

collateral ancestor

To belong to the same ancestral stock, but not in direct line of descent; opposed to lineal, such as aunts, uncles and cousins

common ancestor

An ancestor shared by any two people

confederate

Pertaining to the Southern states, which seceded from the U.S. in 1860 and 1861, the government and its citizens

consanguinity

Blood relationship

consort

Usually means a wife whose husband is living

conveyance

See deed

cousin

A relative descended from a common ancestor, but not a brother or sister

D

daughter-in-law

The wife of one's son

deceased

Dead

decedent

A deceased person

Declaration of Intention

The first paper, sworn to and filed in court by an alien, stating that he wants to be a citizen

deed

A document by which title in real property is transferred from one party to another

deposition

A testifying or testimony before a competent officer, taken down in writing, under oath of affirmation, in reply to interrogatories and used  to replace to oral testimony of a witness

devise

A gift of real property (land) by will

devisee

One to whom real property (land) is given in a will

devisor

One who gives real property in a will

dissenter

One who did not belong to the established church, especially the Church of England in the American colonies

district land office plat book

Books of maps which show the location of the land patentee

district land office tract book

Books which list individual entries by range and township

double dating

A system of double dating used in England and America from 1582 through 1752 because it was not clear as to whether the year commenced January 1 or March 25

dower

The legal right or share which a wife acquired by marriage in the real estate of her husband, allotted to her after his death for her lifetime

dowry

Money or property brought to a husband by his wife upon their marriage

E

emigrant

One leaving a country and moving to another (see immigrant)

enumeration

Listing and counting, such as in a census

epitaph

An inscription on or at a tomb or grave in memory of the one buried

escheat

The reversion of property to the state when there are no qualified heirs

estate

All property and debts belonging to a person

et al

Latin for "and others"

et ux

Latin for "and wife"

et uxor

Latin for "and his wife (sometimes written Et Ux)

executor

One appointed in a will to carry out its provisions

executrix

A female executor

F

father-in-law

The father of one's spouse

fee

An estate of inheritance in land, being fee simple or fee tail. An estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services

fee simple

An absolute ownership without restriction

fee tail

An estate of inheritance limited to lineal descendant heirs of a person to whom it was granted

Franklin, State of

An area from the western part of North Carolina once known, but never officially recognized, that was under consideration between 1784 to 1788

fraternity

A group of men or women sharing a common purpose or interest

free hold

An estate in fee simple, in fee tail, or for life

friend

A member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker

furlough

See measurement