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THE STORYTELLERS
We are the chosen. My feelings are that in each family
there is one who seems called to find the ancestors.
To put flesh on their bones and make them live again....to
tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.
To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts,
but instead, breathing life into all who have gone before.
We are the storytellers of the tribe. All tribes have
one. We have been called as it were by our genes. Those
who have gone before cry out to us:
Tell our story. So, we do.
In finding them, we somehow find ourselves.
How many graves have I stood before now and cried?
I have lost count.
How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a
wonderful family.....you would be proud of us"?
How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow
there was love there for me? I cannot say. It goes beyond just documenting
facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do?
It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever
to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones
here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh.
It goes to doing something about it.
It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able
to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today.
It goes to respecting their hardships and losses,
their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build
a life for their family.
It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep
us a Nation.
It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they
were doing it for us....that we might be born who we are. That we
might remember them.
So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact
of their existence, because we are them and they are us.
So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family.
It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the
call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.
That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what
calls those young
and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.
- Author Unknown. |
Here are some commonly found abbreviations you
might find on old wills. Hope this helps out. Thanks to John John S. Wilkinson,
of Rome, New York.
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
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.
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
Relict - widow or widower (relicta/relictus)
Sic - so or thus, exact copy as written
Testator - one who dies with a valid will
Testes - witnesses
Utl - late (ultimo)
Ux or vs - wife (uxor)
Viz - namely (videlicet) |
