• Passenger List - a ships list of passengers, usually referring to those ships arriving in the US or Canada, from Europe.

• Patent - grant of land from a government to an individual.

• Paternal - related to one's father. 

• Patriot - one who loves his country and supports its interests.

• Pedigree - family tree; ancestry.

• Pension - money paid regularly to an individual, especially by a government as reward for military service during wartime or upon retirement from government service.

• Pensioner - one who receives a pension.

• Poll - list or record of persons, especially for taxing or voting.

• Post - prefix meaning after.

• Posterity - descendants; those who come after.

• Power of Attorney - when a person is unable to act for himself, he appoints another to act in his behalf.

• Pre - prefix meaning before.

• Probate - having to do with wills and the administration of estates.

• Progenitor - a direct ancestor.

• Progeny - descendants of a common ancestor; issue.

• Proved Will - a will established as genuine by probate court.

• Provost - a person appointed to superintend, or preside over something.

• Proximo - in the following month; in the month after the present one.

• Public Domain - land owned by the government.

• Quitclaim - a deed conveying the interest of the party at that time.

• Rector - a clergyman.

• Relict - widow; surviving spouse when one has died, husband or wife.

• Sic - Latin meaning thus; copied exactly as the original reads.

• Spinster - a woman still unmarried.

• Sponsor - a bondsman; surety.

• Statute - law.

• Surname - family name or last name.

Source: Provided by Dan Burrows.

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