Genealogy and Old Documents – Understanding Symbols
Initials:
- a.a.s. – died in the year of his/her age (56 years died in 1856)
- d.s.p. – died without issue
- d.s.p.l. – died without legitimate issue
- d.s.p.m.s. – died without surviving male issue
- d.s.p.s – died without surviving issue
- d.unm – died unmarried
- d.v.p. – died in the lifetime of his father
- d.v.m. – died in the lifetime of his mother
- Et al – and others
- F.L.T. – friendship, love and truth
- Inst – present month
- Liber – book or volume
- Nepos – grandson
- Nunc Nun – an oral will, written by a witness
- Ob – he/she died
- Rel. or Relict – widow or widower
- Res. or Residue – widow or widower
- Sic – exact copy as written Testes – witnesses
- Ult – late
- Ux or vs – wife
- Viz – namely
Trade:
- Barber – Bowl (for bleeding) Razor
- Butcher – an axe, steel knife and cleaver
- Farmer – Coulter (type of hoe), flail (threshing implement), singletree (rod for beating flax), stalk of corn
- Gardener – rake spade
- Mason – wedge, level
- Mariner – anchor, sextant
- Merchant – scales, sign
- Minister – Bible
- Shoemaker – awl, knife, nippers
- Smith – crown, hammer & anvil
- Teacher – open book
- Weaver – loom, shuttle & stretchers
- Wood Wright – wooden objects they made
Other:
- 3 Books – Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants
- 3 Rings – the Oddfellows, friendship, love and truth
- Angel – guardian, spirituality
- Bible – Christian
- Chalice – Sacraments
- Cherub – innocence
- Crescent – Goddess, Muslim religion
- Cross – Christian, resurrection
- Crown – glory of life after death
- Flame / Light – to be immortal
- Garland / Wreath – glory, Saintliness
- Harp – Praise to the God
- Heart – Catholic, love, suffering of Christ
- Hearts (2) – marriage Horns – wisdom, rebirth
- Menorah – Judaism
- Ring (broken) – family circle has been severed
- Rod / Staff – comfort Star – spirit that shines
- Star of David – Judaism
- Sun – renewed life
- Swords Crossed – high Military rank
- Trumpeters – Harbingers of the Resurrection
- Urn – immortality, remembrance
Animals:
- Birds – eternal life or resurrection
- Butterfly – short life
- Dog – good master
- Dove – peace & eternal life
- Lamb – innocence Lion – courage Rooster – awakening, resurrection.
- Ivy – friendship, immortality
- Laurel – accomplishment, heroism
- Lily – innocence, purity
- Morning Glory – beginning of life
- Oak, Leaves and Acorn – power, victory
- Palm Branch – victory, rejoicing
- Poppy – eternal sleep
- Roses – completion and the brevity of earthly existence
- Rose (full bloom) – prime of life
- Rosemary – remembrance
- Thistles – remembrance, Scottish descent
- Tree – life
- Tree Trunk – short life
- Tree Sapling – life everlasting
- Tree Stump stone in Cemetery – Woodmen of the World
- Wheat – divine harvest Weeping
- Willow – grief
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