This week sees the last of my blogs all about words and phrases found in genealogy, family and house history research. This week they begin with the letters U, V, W, X, Y and Z’s
U
UBI – Where, When
UBICUMQUE – wheresoever
UNDIQUE – from all parts, on all sides, everywhere
UNICUS – only, sole
UNQUAM – ever
UPHOLDER – undertaker
USITATUS – customary, accustomed
UTERINE – born of the same mother but by a different father
UXOR – wife
UXORATUS – married man
UXOREM DUXIT – married (a wife), took a wife
V
VAGRANCY – being without regular employment or settled home
VASSAL a feudal inferior of tenant or a MESNE TENANT, of a TENANT-IN-CHIEF or of the King.
vendico/are – to claim
vendo/ire – to sell
Venit – come
veredictum/i – verdict(s)
vicarium – parish
videlicet (vz) – namely, to wit, that is, thus
vidua – widow
viduus – widower
VIEW OF FRANKPLEDGE a system of mutual responsibility for the maintenance of law and order, usually consisting of around ten households
villanus/i – villein(s)
VILLEIN tenants who occupied lands on condition of performing services for the lord of the manor
virgata/ae – virgate(s)
VIRGATE a measurement of land
VISITATION – official inspection of the parish bythe Bishop or his representative, the Archdeacon
visus franciplegii – view of frankpledge
Vocare – To call
Vocat – He calls
W
Wapentake – the equivalent of the HUNDRED in parts of the DANELAW
WARDSHIP – control and use of land od a tenant who is a minor; guardianship of an infant heir until the heir attains the age of majority (historically the age of 21 years)
WASTE – inferior land used for a common purpose
WAYWARDEN – Parish office responsible for the maintenance and repair of highways
WHIM – winding engine worked by horses or steam
WIDOW’S BENCH – share of husband’s estate the widow was entitled to claim for like or until she remarried (usually a third, sometimes a half)
WITNESSES – Godparents
WOODWARD – manorial office charged with the protection of woodland
X
X – sometimes used as an abbreciation for Christ
Y
YARDLAND – measure of land the size of which varied greatly from area to area
YEOMAN – freeholder cultivating his own land; an occupying owner; small/medium farmer generally
Z
ZINZIBER – ginger
ZONA – belt, girdle
ZONARIUS – girdle-maker
I would love to hear what obscure words and phrases you have found in your research – sarah@spfhhistory.co.uk