In genealogy research, when scrolling through documents, microfilm, etc of the past and reading the information therein, I have to keep reminding myself - You cannot used today's standards of morals, etc to judge the past. This can be very difficult. When researching for the post about Capt. William Odean mistreating his servants; killing one, and getting another one pregnant, I found it difficult to research. The term for this is "presentism"- applying today's moral standards to the past.
The examples of presentism above are easy to see and recognize. Although not a moral standard, there is another "standard" of today that people conducting genealogic research can inadvertently use. Luckily, a basic genealogy course made me aware of this years ago. The use of relationship terms in early times is not the same as ours. Today, our terms in English are a lot more rigid.
For the past month, I have been deep in the 1600's records: deeds, wills, estates, court records, etc. Some examples I have found for alternate uses of our kinship words:
1. Cousin - a term that has been used to describe a blood or marriage kinship. I've seen it used to describe both nieces and nephews. You have to investigate to determine the exact relationship. The use of the words niece and nephew didn't become common until around the 1750's.
2. In wills and deeds, stepchildren have been referred to son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws. Conversely, father-in-law and mother-in-law have referred to stepparents.
3. Whole blood - that term is used to denote siblings from the same parents. It can also referred to a parent's biologically, legal child. In yesterday's post, Elizabeth Odean referred to herself as William Odean's "whole blood sister."
4. Referring to someone as a son or daughter. I have found this term applied to daughter-in-laws and son-in-laws. In fact, in the next few days, I'll be posting a will in which Mary Warrick refers to her son-in-law as "son".
5. Brother or sister - often brother-in-laws or sister-in-laws are referred to as brother or sister. These terms were as loosely used then as they are today.
It very important to remember not to assume the relationship mentioned in early documents is used in the same manner as we do today. Research, research, research. Which leads me to today's genealogical conundrum.
What relationship was Francis Sayors/Sayers to the Odean family?
All three of the below facts were written at the end of a transaction the three individuals were conducting individually.
1. 1679, March 3 - Norfolk County Deed Book 4 (1)
I under written Richard Odeon do hereby constitute, make, ordain and appoint my loving brother Francis Sayer to be my lawfull attorney. Signed. Richard Odeon. 16 Feb 1679
2. 1683, May 12 - Norfolk County Deed Book 4 (2)
….”Wm Odeon sone and hyere of Wm Odean dec’d have fully and absolutely empowered my loving brother Francis Sayer in my place”. Signed 12 May 1683 Wm Odeon wit: Richard arrington. Acknowledge: 15 May 1683
3. 1694, June 7 - Norfolk County Deed Book 5 part 2 (3)
….the said Eliz. Odeon being suddenly to depart this county of Norfolk, and not knowing when I shall return…. I the said Elizabeth Odeon, do hereby constitute, make, ordain and appoint my Unkle Francis Sayor, my true and lawful attorney.
Conclusion:
The use of "Unkle" and "brother" have to be investigated further. Maybe he is a brother-in-law to Richard and William. Maybe he married their sister Ellen? Then Elizabeth, William Sr.'s "whole blood sister" refers to him as "Unkle". Is he married to one of his parents sister? This is a conundrum which someone in the family needs to solve.
Happy Hunting - until next time.
1. Norfolk County Virginia, Deed Book 4 1675 - 1686.. FHC microfilm number 32825, Family Group number 7645627, image 105 of 324 Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Norfolk County Courthouse Portsmouth, Virginia. June 20, 1950
2. Norfolk County Virginia, Deed Book 4 1675 - 1686.. FHC microfilm number 32825, Family Group number 7645627, image 109 of 324 Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Norfolk County Courthouse Portsmouth, Virginia. June 20, 1950
3. Norfolk County Virginia, Deed Book 5 1686-1695. p. 223-a FHC microfilm number 32826, Family Group number 7645628, image 447 of 496 Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Norfolk County Courthouse Portsmouth, Virginia. June 20, 1950. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89PX-63HD?i=446&cat=370289
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