« on: Monday 11 May 20 22:42 BST (UK) »
Several of my ancestors who left wills in the 1500s and 1600s mention "my cozen" (obviously another spelling for cousin).
I wonder why this is, if back then they did go by the true definition of cousin (both children of two siblings) then it is quite helpful, unless the term was used a bit more loosely.
My ancestor Thomas Jolye, clerk of Thundersley, Essex, left a will in 1599, mentioning cousin Henry Wright of Bury in Suffolk. Turns out according to a visitation, that Henry Wright was originally of Skipton, and his daughter wed into the Sandwith family. Henry left a will, probated 1610, mentioning the cousins Jollye family of Thundersley, Essex. Henry also mentions property in Skipton, plus cousins Roger Smith, Anthony Smith, Peter Smith and Sandwith children and grandchildren and a Linter/Lynter family.
This can give a clue to the original of Thoams Jollye, maybe he was from Yorks originally.
I would imagine many other members on here have come across cousins mentioned in wills?
Researching:
LONDON, Coombs, Roberts, Auber, Helsdon, Fradine, Morin, Goodacre
DORSET Coombs, Munday
NORFOLK Helsdon, Riches, Harbord, Budery
KENT Roberts, Goodacre
SUSSEX Walder, Boniface, Dinnage, Standen, Lee, Botten, Wickham, Jupp
SUFFOLK Titshall, Frost, Fairweather, Mayhew, Archer, Eade, Scarfe
DURHAM Stewart, Musgrave, Wilson, Forster
SCOTLAND Stewart in Selkirk
USA Musgrave, Saix
ESSEX Cornwell, Stock, Quilter, Lawrence, Whale, Clift
OXON Edgington, Smith, Inkpen, Snell, Batten, Brain