Pages: 1 [2]

Author Topic: Relict and Widow - what's the difference  (Read 40014 times)

Online BumbleB

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,307
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Relict and Widow - what's the difference
« Reply #9 on: Friday 29 July 11 08:25 BST (UK) »
I believe that the use of the term "widow and relict" comes into play when there is no will, and Administration is granted to ??? "the widow and relict".  I have a number of instances of this in my files.

BumbleB
Transcriptions and NBI are merely finding aids.  They are NOT a substitute for original record entries.
Remember - "They'll be found when they want to be found" !!!
If you don't ask the question, you won't get an answer.
He/she who never made a mistake, never made anything.
Archbell - anywhere, any date
Kendall - WRY
Milner - WRY
Appleyard - WRY

Offline Sloe Gin

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 2,394
    • View Profile
Re: Relict and Widow - what's the difference
« Reply #10 on: Friday 29 July 11 09:50 BST (UK) »
I think Rol has hit the nail on the head.  That all makes perfect sense.

Quote from: Rol on Friday 29 July 11 03:29 BST (UK)
Although -- as Stan (citing the OED) and others have observed -- the word was strictly speaking gender-neutral,  instances of a widower being described as his dead wife's "relict" must be extremely rare.

Yes, because a man would normally be described by his position or occupation, whereas a woman was usually defined by her husband's.  But the modern abbreviated form 'relict' could be used to refer to either.
UK census content is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk  Transcriptions are my own.

Offline yn9man

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,370
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Relict and Widow - what's the difference
« Reply #11 on: Friday 29 July 11 15:45 BST (UK) »
Rol -

Thanks for the information. I continue to be amazed by the knowledge of those using this site.

yn9man
Scotland - Adam, Galt/Gault, Mellis, Jardine, Turnbull, Robertson, Auchincloss, Murray, Allison/Allason, Mitchell, Cross, Rae, Brown, McHutcheon, Montgomerie, McKenzie, Mackay, McPherson, McInish

England - Saunders/Sanders, Jory/Jorie/Jura, McKey, Williams/ Wyllams,  Lance, Ellis, Trounson, Dingle, Charlton, Hambridge, Sweetman/Sweatman, Ricks/Rix/Reeks, Cole, Shearwood/Sherwood, Toy, Brooks, Moore, Donn, Nicolas, Habberfield,

Denmark - Alling/Aalling, Lastein, Lund, Rasmussen

Offline kennethtk

  • RootsChat Pioneer
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Relict and Widow - what's the difference
« Reply #12 on: Monday 21 January 19 05:17 GMT (UK) »
An 1837 grave marker in the USA reads:
"Mercy Westcott
widowed relict of x
and widow of y"

Can a conclusion be drawn of which she married first?

Offline Melbell

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 495
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Relict and Widow - what's the difference
« Reply #13 on: Monday 21 January 19 10:50 GMT (UK) »
This is something I've noticed about modern obituary notices - lots of them refer to someone as "wife of the late x" or "husband of the late y", instead of using the words widow or widower.  Is this because people just don't like the 'correct' terms any more, or for some other reason?  And did it happen in the past?  If so, it would just be something else to confound family historians! 

Melbell
Pages: 1 [2]