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Some Special Interests => Heraldry Crests and Coats of Arms => Topic started by: Galia72 on Monday 08 June 26 15:20 BST (UK)

Title: Did use of Esq signify connection to Scottish clan leaders or nobility in 1837?
Post by: Galia72 on Monday 08 June 26 15:20 BST (UK)

My great-great grandfather, William Sim, came from Aberdeen (am guessing the city specifically) and. was described on his wedding notice in Long Island, New York in 1837 as William Sim, Esq. As far as I can tell, he never returned to Scotland.

His father's name was not mentioned in either of his two wedding records and I have not been able to find a birth record on Scotlands People.

With the surname, Sim, is it more likely he added the Esq out of self-importance, rather than because he was the son of someone important who may not have registered his birth in 1816?

Title: Re: Did use of Esq signify connection to Scottish clan leaders or nobility in 1837?
Post by: Viktoria on Monday 08 June 26 15:48 BST (UK)

 No ,men were described as for example - “ Mr. John Smith “ or as -“ John Smith Esquire.”

A Squire was a young boy who attended a Knight ,looking after his armour etc and who would probably be a minor landowner in time .
Esquire became a term of polite address or description especially in correspondence ,rather than denoting rank .
Viktoria.

Title: Re: Did use of Esq signify connection to Scottish clan leaders or nobility in 1837?
Post by: Jebber on Monday 08 June 26 15:57 BST (UK)

I agree with Viktoria.  Back in the fifties most of my father’s mail came addressed by ether hi full name or initials followed by Esq. It has virtually died out those days, even business letters are addressed to Mr, and the letters themselves just the Christian name. Politeness doesn’t seem to exist anymore,

Title: Re: Did use of Esq signify connection to Scottish clan leaders or nobility in 1837?
Post by: HughC on Monday 08 June 26 18:13 BST (UK)

See the Wikipedia article 'Esquire' for those who were entitled to be called such,
at various times.

I'm not sure whether it says so there, but I believe it was (also) applied to a man who did not have to work for a living, because he had inherited money.

Title: Re: Did use of Esq signify connection to Scottish clan leaders or nobility in 1837?
Post by: Galia72 on Tuesday 09 June 26 02:04 BST (UK)

Thanks all. I thought the situation might be different in Scotland, particularly in the 1830's

Title: Re: Did use of Esq signify connection to Scottish clan leaders or nobility in 1837?
Post by: David Nicoll on Tuesday 09 June 26 07:00 BST (UK)

Hi,
   I would echo what others have said, I would take it as he either had independent means or was a businessman of some description. Do you have any details of his occupation?
   You say he was from Aberdeen, I would not restrict myself to just the city in your search and bear in mind that spelling could be flexible, he may not have been baptised in Aberdeen even if that is where he grew up, finally obviously he may have been flexible with his age!

Happy Hunting