Legalities
These are common terms we find when doing family research. This list is by no means all inclusive.
a.a.s. - died in the year of his/her age (anno aetitis suae) (86 years old and died in the year 86)
bond - marriage, indenture, guardian (click on bond)
d.s.p - died without issue (decessit sine prole legitima)
d.s.p.l. - died without legitimate issue (decessit sine prole mascula supesita)
d.s.p.m.s. - died without surviving male issue (decessit sine prole mascula supersita)
d.s.p.s. - died without surviving issue (decessit sine prole supersita)
d.unm - died unmarried
d.v.p. - died in the lifetime of his father (decessit vita patris)
d.v.m. - died in the lifetime of his mother (decessit vita matris)
Et al - other parties are involved, but not listed in the name of the case. There can be many other defendants. (et alia)
Ex P - sometimes used at the beginning of the name of a case, for example, Ex P Charles Smith. It is usually used to refer to a case that has been appealed as another way to designate that other parties are involved and multiple appeals have been filed. It can also be used when one party may want to remain anonymous and files a motion with the court. (Ex Parte)
heirs-at-law - anyone who would legally be considered an heir to a deceased person
Inst - present month (instans)
intestate - one who dies without a will
Liber - book or volume
Nepos - grandson
Nunc Nuncapative - will, an oral will, written by a witness
Ob - he/she died (obit)
Relict - widow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Sic - so or thus, exact copy as written
testator - one who dies with a valid will
Testis - legal witnesses
Utl - late (ultimo)
Ux or vs - wife (uxor)
Viz - namely (videlicet)
Caps and pins - may refer to the caps that women wore and the pins that held them to their hair
Slice and tongs - the slice is what today would be considered a spatula - it was used to turn foods in the frying pan and the tongs to pick it up
Knot dish - a dish to hold fancy ribbons, called knots
Milk trays - used to put milk in and the cream would rise to the top to be separated - also called "set pans"
Bed rope - preceded the bed slats we know today and was used to support the mattress. The rope was strung across the bed frame and the mattress laid on top. The expression "sleep tight" came about because the bed ropes had to be tightened occasionally and it was considered a better night's sleep with the ropes taut.
Fletchets (or hetchels) - a hetchel, or hackle (bed of nails) was a tool used to comb flax to break off the rough straw parts and to separate the fibers in order to spin it and make linen thread.
Dutch wheel - a type of spinning wheel to make yarn or thread
Stilhards (or stilhands) - a stilyard, or steelyard, is a portable scale for weighing things
Pillowbeers - pillow case
Trammel - a shackle for a horse or a device with links or openings at different heights for hanging a pothook in a fireplace
Porringer - a small shallow bowl, probably of pewter
Doulas - a coarse linen cloth made in France
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