Latin Matters

If only what we are reading at the Chester Archives and Local Studies was this easy to read. We can't reproduce an example here because we promised not to, but rest assured we have hundreds of photos of 18th century probate disputes written in Latin.

In case you're wondering Latin is a difficult language. I still have nightmares about heaven requiring correctly identified fifth declension nouns. But a surprisingly small amount of Latin, once learned, can get you through an enormous amount of ecclesiastical and legal history of early modern England. (It is also surprising that the FHL Latin word list doesn't contain some very important words - you know, like "sister" or "brother.") By the way, knowing what a thorn is matters and abbreviations rule the day.

So for those of you slacking on your Latin here is the list of words most useful when studying probate disputes, defamation, and penance cases (B and K will bring you Cadbury chocolate if you correctly translate these words).

Defuncti, frater, filius, relict, vidua, uxor, parochia, coram, apud, and femina non grava.

All scatological, spurious, and vulgar references, not to mention all words which question one's lineage and legitimacy, were helpfully left in English.