Hi, Jim.  Your question may serve many on the list. Some of my NC and VA rural 4th and 5th cousins regularly address me as "cousin".  Thereby, they are displaying what they consider "good manners", since they do not feel sufficiently acquainted to address me as "Paul", yet presume to be closer in relationship than to address me as "Mister".  That practice is common in the South, and - I presume - elsewhere as well.  

So, I would very much suspect that she was a cousin, or at a least a relative.  While "Sister", "Companion", and "Dearest Sally" were rather common usage, I know of no instances IN A WILL where anyone other than kin was labeled "cousin".  Better bet that she was just that - maybe a second or third or even more remote.      
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: James W. Tiller 
  To: Paul Drake 
  Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 7:14 AM
  Subject: Cousin


  Paul,

  Have been doing a lot of work on a family and have come across a will in
  which the statement is made, to the effect:  to my COUSIN Sally Smith,
  widow of George Smith, I leave 50 acres.

  By my research, the will writer and the deceased George Smith were
  IN-LAWS, the deceased being the WIFE of George Smith's BROTHER, Sam.

  During the 1830s period, would addressing such a relative as "cousin" be a
  term of family affection/endearment or is it possible (I guess anything is
  possible) that Sally Smith MUST be a cousin to the will writer? That too
  is possible, though seemingly at this point from a migration standpoint
  not likely.

  Appreciate you assistance,

  Jim Tiller


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