Editor's Notes: Things Changed, Things Unchanged

EDITOR’S NOTES THINGS CHANGED, THINGS UNCHANGED A s I work with the articles that we publish, particularly the abstracts and transcripts, I am frequently reminded of how much–and how little–things have changed in intervening centuries. The manner in which young men learn skilled trades has changed; no longer do we have extensive systems of indenture, as explored in the article on Andrew Bird. Many trades, such as brazier, no longer exist. The term relatives, then as now, encompasses both family by blood and family by marriage, as revealed in the article about the wives of George Deuel. Something that does not change is our surprising willingness to believe what is in print without further investigation. The error of the de Turck ancestry, published in 1844 and 1901, has been oft repeated in print, as late as 2005, even though the correct information was published in 1980. Beliefs about causes of death have changed; it is unlikely that today a family record would note that someone “died in the very hot summer . . . due to the consequences of drinking very cold water,” as it does in the Becker Bible. The Oyer and Terminer records show that in the eighteenth century crimes such as assault, burglary, and rape were punishable by hanging the offender by the neck until dead. The minutes for Chester County are in this issue. Then, as now, courts required juries. The Oyer and Terminer appointment lists include grand and traverse juries, in addition to appointed offices such as constables and magistrates. The lists for Bucks County are in this issue. The petitions for Revolutionary War passes include an example of how little some things change, in a statement with which most parents can identify. The petitioner, who was hoping to go to the Island of Antigua to manage his brother’s plantation, requested a pass for his son, also, saying “for the sake of superintending his education, he wishes to take [his son] with him, he being now of that age which more than ever requires the watchful care and oversight of a parent to form his mind to virtue.” Hereditary societies such as DAR and SAR are such a part of the current genealogical world that we forget that many ancestors remained loyal to the British crown, as shown by the four Loyalists in this issue’s passes. Patricia Law Hatcher, FASG 194 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 (2008) Proofreading copy (12 June, 2008)