In a message dated 8/20/2004 11:59:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
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?
Unfortunately, as is too often my case, I cannot cite where, but I know that
I have read soemwhere, that I considered at the time to be a knowledgeable
source, that in our country during the colonial period and later, the term
"cousin" was often used for those who were kin but not brother or sister and could
include in-laws and nieces and nephews.  (It may have been discussed along with
the fact that the term "junior" and "senior" did not necessarily mean a
father - son relationship and could also include nephews and even unrelated persons
in a community with the same name but younger and older.)  I have also read
that the term cousin was also used for a member of the same clan in Ireland and
Scotland which may have been the source of its use among the many Scots-Irish
on this side of the Ocean.

John

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