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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Topic started by: snuttall on Sunday 25 September 22 19:42 BST (UK)

Title: What would you understand "kinsman" in a will to mean?
Post by: snuttall on Sunday 25 September 22 19:42 BST (UK)

This is a will dated 1758. The will doesn't mention any wife, sons or daughters. It just says he leaves all to "KINSMAN Lawrence Rawstorn, son of John Rawstorne of Priestintax, when he is 25"

He also leaves a small legacy to "Nephew John Rawstorne"

Would you take this to mean John Rawstorne is the nephew and John's son Lawrence (technically great-nephew) is the 'kinsman'?

Title: Re: What would you understand "kinsman" in a will to mean?
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Sunday 25 September 22 20:28 BST (UK)

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fordingtondorset/genealogy/Files/Glossary.html

This Glossary covering 17 century wills etc, states that it would be a member of same family.  Would not be used for close relatives as they would be named by relationship.

So I would think, as he stated in will, his kinsman son of John is a great nephew.

Cas

Title: Re: What would you understand "kinsman" in a will to mean?
Post by: hurworth on Sunday 25 September 22 20:44 BST (UK)

Possibly they're related in many ways.  The brother of an ancestor wrote in his will that he forgave "my relative" a debt.  The "relative" was descended from three of great aunts of the person writing the will, so related in many ways.

Title: Re: What would you understand "kinsman" in a will to mean?
Post by: snuttall on Sunday 25 September 22 21:13 BST (UK)

Thank you both, I feel better about that assumption now!