CHARLOTTE'S WEB Genealogical Dictionary
ROOTS
Dictionary of Genealogy & Archaic Terms
[J]
17 January, 2012
This file contains many of the common "buzzwords", terminology and legal
words found in genealogy work. If you think of any words that should be added to
this list, please notify Randy Jones.
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- JACK
- [Archaic] a flask; a small container carried on a person and containing an
alcoholic beverage.
- JACKSON WHITE
- descended from a group of West Indian women of African descent who were
taken to the Delaware Valley to "entertain" the British Troops during the War
of Independence. When the British pulled out, the women and their children
were abandoned. Another legend on them is that black free-men with the Dutch
surnames from the Dutch plantations interbreeded with the Indians, possible
Tuscarora Indians. Some agree that it was a mixture of Munsee, Mattabesic,
Pompton and Metoac Indians.
- JARL
- [Scandanavian] Nobility of same rank as 'Earl'
does in England. The title of Jarl first appeared in England under Canute
(1016-35), of which the Anglo-Saxon version was eorl. He had his own court and
exercised his own jurisdiction. In Sweden (at least from the 12th century on)
the highest office of State was that of jarl. The jarl was essentially
comparable with the Frankish 'mayor of the palace' (a position occupied by
Charlemagne's ancestors). He was the leader of the traditional levy of armed
men and ships (ledung). His power could often rival that of the king, and he
was usually supported by the nobles
- JIERESCHIEVE
- a payment made by burgesses to a royal
official
- JOINED STOOL
- one framed with joints
- JOINTURE
- the condition by which the property and wealth a woman carries into
marriage become jointly and equally owned by husband and wife
- JONGLEUR
- a wandering minstrel
- JULIAN CALENDAR
- the calendar in use prior to 1752 (see Gregorian
Calendar) that was created by Julius Caesar
- JUND
- [Arabic] troops or army
- JUNIOR,SENIOR,III, etc
- not necessarily meaning a father/son relationship, these terms were used
to differentiate between men (and sometimes women) with the same name whether
they were related or not. The oldest would be called Senior and the other(s)
would be titled accordingly. If Peter Smith had a nephew Peter Smith, the
former would be titled Senior, the latter Junior. In a small community, there
might be three men named Peter Smith. They would be named Senior, Junior and
III according to their ages. If Peter Smith, Senior died or moved out of the
community, Peter Smith, Junior would become Senior. These titles were not
permanent, but rather conveniences in colonial families and communities.
- JUSTICAR
- In England, the Justiciar was the king's chief minister in Norman times
and ran the country during the king's frequent absences on the continent. The
last Justiciar was Hubert de Burgh who died in 1232, although the barons
attempted to revive the office during the later part of Henry III's reign. In
Ireland, the Justiciar was the king's chief representative in the 13th
century, but those duties were taken over by the Lord Lieutenant. In Scotland,
the Justiciar was the supreme law officer until the 15th century when that
position came to be filled by lord justice general. -- John Steele Gordon
- JUSTICE OF OYER AND TERMINER
- a circuit judge
- JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
- originally know as 'Keepers of the Peace', they were charged with
suppressing disorder, seeking out and trying felons and trespassers, and
enforcing labor laws. They tried cases quarterly, although occasionally
on shorter intervals. Trials were by jury, and convicted felons were
typically hung. The creation of this office led to a decline in the
importance of sheriffs and the
courts of the shires and
hundreds.
- JUSTICAR
- (1) head of the judiciary
- (2) viceroy or regent for the king in the king's absence, especially over
a king's remote properties. For example, the English king typically
appointed a justicar as governor of Ireland, when England possessed Ireland
during medieval times
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A
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| G
| H
| I
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K
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Sources:
{A}The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
{B} Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Edition
{D} Dictionary.com
{E} Evans, Barbara Jean. The New A to Zax
{F}The Dictionary of Genealogy by Terrick V H Fitzhugh
{H} History of the Later Roman Empire, Vol.1, J.B. Bury,
1958.
{O}The Oxford English Dictionary
{P} Pepys' diary
{R} Random House Unabridged Dictionary (2006)
{Q} Hinshaw, William Wade, "Encyclopedia of America Quaker Genealogy," (1938,
Rpt., Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994)
{W} Webster's Collegiate Dictionary; Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA,
Inc.
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