Hey's 'Oxford Companion to Local Family History'

[castlebob]

Does anyone have a copy of Hey's 'Oxford Companion to  Family and Local History'? If so, could someone tell me what description he uses for the term 'friend' as used in wills?
Many thanks,
Bob

[arthurk]

As far as I can see in the 1996 edition, the only mention of friends in the entry for wills is in the phrase "friends [were] called in to sign as witnesses". There's no specific separate entry for friends.

[stanmapstone]

I can't see any entry for "friend" either in my 1998 edition. However the OED has this definition " A close relation, a kinsman or kinswoman. In later use regional (chiefly Sc. and Irish English (northern))."

Stan

[stanmapstone]

The OED also states that blood-friend is Scottish for a blood relative.

Stan

[castlebob]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Cheers,
Bob

[hdw]

I can only speak for Scotland, and certainly in rural Scotland the word "freend' (friend) could be used to mean a relative and not just a friend. It was used that way up to and including my late father's generation in Fife - he was born in 1911 - but I don't know if it's still current in that sense or not.

Harry

[stanmapstone]

I can only speak for Scotland, and certainly in rural Scotland the word "freend' (friend) could be used to mean a relative and not just a friend.

As the quote I posted from the OED states.
" A close relation, a kinsman or kinswoman. In later use regional (chiefly Sc(ottish). and Irish English (northern))."

Stan

[Old Bristolian]

It may also indicate that both parties were Quakers,

Steve