Can an 'aunt' be a great-aunt in the 18th century?

[Richard Knott]

Sarah Nott's will of 1757 mentions her sister, Elizabeth ABRAHAMS; her two daughters (Sarah, b1701 who married Chester Moor Hall in 1750; and Margaret, bc1705, who married Hugh Nightingale in 1721 (!)); and her nephew John Kennedy, to whom she left money to finish his apprenticeship.

John's apprenticeship papers (1745) say that he is being sponsored by his aunt, Mrs Sarah Nott, which fits well.

I cannot find Sarah's marriage to James Nott (c1677-1721) in about 1700 but, if she was an aunt, her maiden name would be Kennedy or Holbred as John Kennedy was born in 1732 to Charles (b1705) and Ann (nee Holbred) Kennedy.

All these baptisms and marriages took place in the SE corner of Essex (Foulness area).

My problem is that Sarah is at least 25 years older than her sibling (Charles or Ann); and I can't find her marriage to James Nott or her sister's marriage to a Mr Abrahams to conform a surname. Might she be one generation further removed from John Kennedy?

Richard

[melba_schmelba]

I don't think people were always so specific about relationships in those days. Cousin could mean nephew/niece or something more distant. So yes, I am sure people also said aunt when we would specifically talk about a great aunt.

[LizzieL]

There's a marriage between a John Abraham (of Dengie) and Elizabeth Hatts (of Bradwell, presumably Bradwell on sea) at Dengie on 26 Dec 1711. A possibility for Elizabeth Abrahams if she's Sarah's younger sister.

[AlanBoyd]

Betsey Trotwood is David Copperfield's great-aunt, but he refers to her as his aunt.

I grew up calling my maternal great-aunt "Auntie Lily".

[Richard Knott]

Thanks for the suggestions.
There are also other possibilities for Elizabeth/ASBRAHAMS is her surname isn't limited to Holbred or Kennedy, so I think I'll have to take everything back a generation. Pity the James Nott/Sarah marriage isn't there.

Richard

[lydiaann]

I am Auntie 'lydiaann' to my great-nieces and nephews.

[amondg]

Have you considered that Elizabeth Abrahams may be her sister in law that she refers to as a sister.
They did like to complicate matters.

There is an Elizabeth Mot? married John Abrams 1699 in Prittlewell only a few miles from Foulness.

[Richard Knott]

A good suggestion re the use of sister for sister-in-law (which I have seen before) but, unfortunately, that particular Elizabeth died in 1701 and John Abrams remarried in 1702.

Richard

[amondg]

Sorry about that.