• Maiden Name - a girl's last name or surname before she marries.

• Manuscript - a composition written with the hand as an ancient book or a non-printed modern book or music.

• Marriage Bond - a financial guarantee that no impediment to the marriage existed, furnished by the intended bridegroom or by his friends.

• Maternal - related through one's mother.

• Messuage - a dwelling house.

• Metes & Bounds - property described by natural boundaries, such as 3 notches in a white oak tree, etc.

• Microfiche - sheet of microfilm with greatly reduced images of pages of documents.

• Microfilm - reproduction of documents on film at reduced size.

• Migrant - person who moves from place to place, usually in search of work.

• Migrate - to move from one country or state or region to another.

• Militia - citizens of a state who are not part of the national military forces but who can be called into military service in an emergency; a citizen army, apart from the regular military forces.

• Minor - one who is under legal age; not yet a legal adult.

• Mister - in early times, a title of respect given only to those who held important civil officer or who were of gentle blood.

• Moiety - a half; an indefinite portion.

• Mortality - death; death rate.

• Mortality Schedules - enumeration of persons who died during the year prior to June 1 of 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 in each state of the United States, conducted by the bureau of census.

• Mortgage - a conditional transfer of title to real property as security for payment of a debt.

• Namesake - person named after another person.

• Necrology - listing or record of persons who have died recently.

• Nee - used to identify a woman's maiden name; born with the surname of.

• Noncupative Will - one declared or dictated by the testator, usually for persons in last sickness, sudden illness, or military.

• Orphan - child whose parents are dead; sometimes, a child who has lost one parent by death.

• Orphan's Court - orphans being recognized as wards of the states, provisions were made for them in special courts.

Source: Provided by Dan Burrows.

 Back to Top