c ; ca. About, approximately. (From the Latin circa, approximately.
CChristening register.
C., C's. codicil.
Cal. Probate Calendar.
Candlemas The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (2nd of February)
canon rule, law or decree made by a church. Also, a clergyman who is a member of a cathedral chapter.
cath.cathedral.
cathedral The chief church of a diocese, where the bishop's seat is located.
caveat A process in court to suspend proceedings (From Latin, let a person beware)
cem. cemetery.
Census; Census Returns Official gathering listing of citizens and specific information about them. A listing of the population of England and Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands was taken every ten years beginning in 1801. In the United States the Census is in the year ending with a zero.
Certificate of removal A written instrument documenting the departure or arrival of a church member in good standing from or to a congregation; used consistently by the Society of Friends (Quakers).
Chain A chain of 100 links, a length of 66 feet, used to measure land (The length of a cricket pitch).
Chain Carrier A surveyor's assistant who carried the measuring chain.
Chancellor The honorary head of a university.
Chancery Chancery court, court of equity, or court of record; an ecclesiastical probate court in England.
Chancery records In civil cases, record books kept by the clerk of the chancery court.
Chan. Pro.Chancery Proceedings.
chapel A small Church of England entity without parochial status or rights of burial, etc., which is dependent on a parish church; Place for worship in a private house or institution; A religious meeting place of a non-conformist group.
chaplain A priest or minister in charge of a chapel; Clergyman in the armed forces or an institution.
charter A document granting land or privileges to a person, company or group.
chattel Property except a freehold and its appendages. (Phrase - Goods and chattels)
chit; chitty A note promising to pay later and given in lieu of money; used widely by troops and miners who shopped at the company store ; Any slip of paper giving authority.
chr. Christened.(See baptism)
Christian name Forename(s) given at baptism; Name other than the family name.
church hay Churchyard.
cit. Citizen.
Civil Marriage A marriage ceremony performed according to governmental law, generally not in a church, chapel, synagogue, or other religious building.
civ. Civil.
civil law Laws concerned with civil or private rights and remedies, as contrasted with criminal law.
clandestine marriages Marriages not performed in accordance to English law, viz. after posting banns or obtaining a marriage licence.
Clerical Subsidy Taxes paid by religious bodies whenever lay subsidies were levied by Parliament.
Close Rolls A collection of Letters Close and private deeds enrolled in the Royal Court of Chancery.
CMB Christening, marriage and burial registers.
Co. County.
codicil An addition to a will or other legal document.
cognate Related on the mother's side.
cohabitation Persons living together as husband and wife (see als0: common-law-marriage).
collateral Descended from a common ancestor, but through a different line.
collateral line Line of descent connecting persons who share a common ancestor, but are related through an aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew, etc.
Collector of the Poor Former name for the Overseer of the Poor (q.v.).
B>comm. communion, communicant.
Common Ancestor An ancestor shared by any two people; person through whom two or more persons claim descent or lineage.
common-law-marriageThe relationship between a man and woman living together as man and wife, but without the benefit of marriage.
community property Property owned jointly by a husband and wife as a result of their marriage relationship.
competent Someone judged to be sane and capable of managing their own affairs or those of others.
communicant Person receiving communion and therefore uded to indicate an active church member
complaint Formal charge filed by the plaintiff against the defendant in a court action.
compurgator A person swearuing to the truth of a statement made in court by someone else.
confinement The period during childbirth; also called "the lying-in of a woman."
Congregationalists A non-conformist denomination founded by Robert Browne prior to 1608 and later called Separatists, Brownists, and Independents.
cons. Consistory.
consanguinity The degree of relationship between persons who descend from a common ancestor.
consideration Price or motive given in any contract for the transfer of property.
consistory
Consistory Court The spiritual court of a bishop.
consort A husband or wife; also the companion or partner of an unmarried person. Usually refers to the spouse of a monarch or some official such as a mayor.
Constable Historically, the official of the hundred or parish who was responsible for reporting and taking action of felonies committed, escaped prisoners, riots and unlawful assemblies, failure to attend church, licensing, drunkeness, militia matters, etc.
contumacy Refusal of an excommunicant to submit to ecclesiastical authority.
cordwainer A person who trades or works with leather goods.
cornetFormerly, the lowest commissioned rank in a cavalry regiment.
cottar The tenant of a cottage.
county (See appendix)
County Boundaries These have been redrawn many. For before 1974: See appendix
County Record Office (CRO) The place where the records of a county are housed. Almost everythig printed or recorded about the area is in these archives: parish registers, wills, marriage licence records, manor court rolls, as well as documents of private owners, solicitors, businesses and semi-public bodies.
Court of Common Pleas Established by Henry II, it consisted of five justices who were to act upon the pleas brought by the king's subjects against one another; in 1873, it became a part of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice.
Cousin Child of an aunt or uncle; in earlier times any kinsman, close relative, or friend.
C.P.C.Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
CRO County Record Office.
cur. curation, curator.
curate Although in common usage to mean an assistant parish priest, curate is a term for any priest having a cure (i.e. a care of souls) and historically is applied to the parish priest.
Curia Regis The King's Court.
curtilage A plot of land near a house.