Research Notes

Unusual and Unexpected Pronunciations

Many Eastern Shore place names and family names are pronounced differently from the way an outsider might expect. The original Worcester site collected these examples:

Beauchamp

Surname, pronounced as Beech'-um, not as Bow'-shahmp.

Bowden

Surname, pronounced as Bow'-in or Bow'n (the 'ow' to rhyme with 'snow,' not 'cow'). The 'd' is usually not pronounced. Occasionally heard as Bow'-din.

Bozman

Surname, pronounced as Bahz'-man, not as Boze'-man.

Manokin

Place name, pronounced as Muh-no'-kin, not as Man'-i-kin.

Mattapony

Place name, pronounced as Mat-uh-puh-nye', not as Mat'-a-poh-nee.

Monie

Place name, pronounced as Muh-nye', not as Moan'-ee.

Sayers

Surname, pronounced as Seers (or 'Sears,' like the store), not as Say'-ers.

Wetipquin

Place name, pronounced as Wee-tip'-kin or Wee-tip'-kwin, depending on who you ask.

Wicomico

Place name, pronounced as Wye-cahm'-ih-co, not Wih-co'-mih-co or Wee'-co-mee'-co.

Winder

Surname, pronounced as Winn'-der, not Wine'-der.

Worcester

Place name, pronounced as Wooss'-ter (the 'oo' to rhyme with 'book,' not 'boot'), not War'-chess-ter.

Place Names That Have Changed

Some Eastern Shore place names have changed over time. Thanks to Becky Miller for additions to the original list.

Old Somerset County's Parishes

Old Somerset County (which includes today's Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties in Maryland, along with a portion of Sussex County in Delaware) was divided into four parishes in the Anglican Church (Episcopalian). Each parish was comprised of two Hundreds, which were early geographical boundaries.

• Somerset Parish: Manokin Hundred and Monie Hundred
• Coventry Parish: Pocomoke Hundred and Annemessex Hundred
• Stepney Parish: Wicomico Hundred and Nanticoke Hundred
• Snow Hill Parish: Bogettenorton Hundred and Mattapony Hundred

If you are unfamiliar with the boundaries of Old Somerset's Hundreds, see the John C. Lyon Old Somerset maps.

Land and Probate Record Numbering

Land and probate records in Somerset and Wicomico Counties seem to have an odd numbering scheme, consisting of Libers numbered with a letter or series of letters. The earliest land records start with Liber B Number 1, and go on to CD, IK, IKL, EI, L1, L2, etc. Then, the records started being numbered with the initials of the clerk in office at the time. For instance, Liber LW indicates that it was recorded during Levin Woolford's term as clerk. Probate records are also numbered according to the initials of the clerk, such as EB - Esme Bayley.

Naming Customs

Since many on the Eastern Shore come from Scotch or Scotch/Irish ancestry, this information from In Search of Scottish Ancestry by Hamilton Edwards may be helpful:

• The eldest son was named after the paternal grandfather.
• The second son was named after the maternal grandfather.
• The third son after the father.
• The eldest daughter after the maternal grandmother.
• The second daughter after the paternal grandmother.
• The third daughter after the mother.

The original Worcester page also noted these additional practices:

• The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother.
• The fourth daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister.

Naming patterns are clues, not rules; families did not always follow them.

Problematic Colonial Terms

Some terms in wills, deeds, and other records may lead researchers in the wrong direction unless we remember that their historical meanings could differ from modern usage.

brother / sister

May indicate blood relations, step-brother or sister, church brother or sister.

brother-in-law / sister-in-law

Any kinship through marriage; could be a step-child or step-parent, for instance.

cousin

Any relative not in the immediate family.

goodman / goodwife / "goody"

Social position one step below the "gentleman" or "gentlewoman".

indentured servant

A person whose passage to America was paid in return for an agreement to serve for a specified number of years.

Jr. or Sr.

This designation did not always imply a father-son relationship. It was used to distinguish individuals with identical names. The term may be dropped if one dies.

Mr. / Mrs. / Mistress

Titles of social position; Mrs. was used for both married and unmarried women.

mother / father

Could mean in-law.

"my now wife" or "my present wife"

This was a legal phrase and did not necessarily mean there was a former spouse.

"natural son"

Usually meant not adopted; did not imply illegitimacy.

nephew / niece

The Latin "nepos" or "neptis" means grandson or granddaughter. This term may occasionally have this earlier meaning.

servant

One who serves; not necessarily socially inferior, such as an apprentice.

Surveyors' Terms

METES AND BOUNDS

The precisely described boundary lines of a parcel of land (course and distance).

PATENT

Document issued by the government granting right of title of public land to an individual.

WARRANT

Assignment of land to an individual. Authorization to survey and patent the land.

DEED

Document under seal which, when delivered, transfers a present interest in property to another.

GRANTOR

Person selling land.

GRANTEE

Person buying or receiving land.

COURSE

A line or bound described in a survey, running in a given distance and direction.

COURSE REVERSED

To follow a line or course in a survey in the opposite direction that it was first described, but with the same distance (usually the line of an adjoining survey).

HOME LINE

The last line or course called in a survey. The line that returns to the beginning, or first boundary (right line to the beginning).

Surveyors' Measurements

• 1 Perch, Pole, or Rod = 16½ feet or 5½ yards
• 1 Chain = 4 Rods or 66 feet
• 80 Chains = 1 Mile
• 1 Acre = 10 Square Chains
• 40 Rods = 1/8 of a Statute Mile or 1 Furlong
• 640 Acres = 1 Square Mile
• 1 Chain = 100 Links of 7.92 Inches
• 16 Square Rods = 1 Square Chain
• 10 Square Chains = 1 Acre
• 1 Acre = 160 Square Rods
• 1 Acre = a square parcel of land measuring approximately 208.7 feet by 208.7 feet