Word 'cousin' used in relation to half-siblings in 1600's?

[pinefamily]

It was very common if there were young children involved, Bugbear. A widow with a young family usually had little or no means to provide for them; a widower in a similar situation needed someone to look after his children, and run his home.

[pinefamily]

Unless there has been an academic study done on the usage of the word "cousin", I guess we will never know definitively.

Speaking as one who (when I'd done less genealogy) was fooled by a "brother" (in an old document) who was a "brother-in-law" (modern parlance), is there an information anywhere describing the various usages, and how they varied over time (and/or place) ?

 BugBear

Not that I'm aware of, but I am sure that if there is, someone will post a link.
Sometimes you need to look a little wider at the family circle; I confirmed that 4 men described as "cousins" in a will were actually nephews by looking at other wills and PR's.

[smudwhisk]

Having read numerous Wills from this period (and for that matter other periods) over the years I would also agree that it is more than likely referring to nephew. I've never seen it used in relation to a half sibling, they would tend to use brother or sister, as they would also generally for brother or sister in law. You need to look more closely at the siblings of the Will writer. If he had half siblings any of their children would be referred to as cousins also. Unfortunately, though, they were also known to use kinsman for nieces and nephews too. It can get confusing.

The use of aunt and uncle for non-relatives is a more modern courtesy from my experience, but you can obviously get exceptions.

[Nick Vogel]

Thanks guys. Well for what it's worth I did find a transcript of the will here, though not much new info from it.

https://books.google.com/books?id=SgkIAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT27&lpg=PT27&dq=will+of+george+fairbanks+sowerby+clothier+1650&source=bl&ots=-QyhrWsQde&sig=55VmxvpxwWkPH19Pj8OXWolAhLA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjSqfXPpufMAhVFxoMKHaXKDnYQ6AEIOjAF#v=onepage&q=will%20of%20george%20fairbanks%20sowerby%20clothier%201650&f=false


It seems that John and Isabel Fairbanks (parents of George Fairbanks the clothier, author of this will) did have a son Jonathan, but the names Jonathan and George are used a lot over and over by all the Fairbanks' families in the surrounding parishes so who knows who was being referred to. Like I said, there's another George in Heptonstall about five miles away from Sowerby some people think is Jonathan's father, and then a "George Fairbanks, son of George Fairbanks" is mentioned in this will, and then there's some other relation named Jonathan Fairbanks (who some people think is the son of the George mentioned in the will) who became the local vicar.

[pinefamily]

Nick, I had a look at some of the trees available on the net (not just ancestry), and I didn't see one that actually provided documentary proof of who were the parents of the New England Jonathan Fairbanks.
I had similar trouble for many years finding a link for my paternal ancestor in England; he came out to Australia, and I couldn't find any proof of where he came from, until I found a letter written to him by his sister-in-law. Without proof, you can say anything fits.

[alfietcs]

In George Fairbanks' will (he died unmarried and childless), he mentions his own siblings, as well as his cousins, and mentions a "Mr. Johnathan Fairbanks" although he doesn't designate his relationship to Mr. Jonathan. A copy of the will was sent "to his loving cousin Jonathan Fairbanks in New England."

Hi Nick
I am no expert by any means, but when reading your post, it comes across to me, that the Jonathan in New England is George Fairbanks cousin or at least, a great friend and that the word "cousin", just wasn't mentioned in the main body of the will. It sounds like Jonathan was a favourite cousin and/or friend until Jonathan emigrated? . Why put "loving cousin" on a will, to someone who was distant or not close, as some people are arguing in the pro half sibling camp. If they were as loving as implied, and half siblings, then I would think it would say loving brother.

Just my thoughts anyway:)
I do wish you luck, its always hard trying to prove something when everyone else has something different to you.