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Glossary Go to: A to D | E to H | I to L | M to P | Q to T | U to Z A Top of page  Able seaman (AS) Merchant Navy seaman, certified to carry out routine duties at sea. This rank is higher than an Ordinary Seaman ADM 48 Series reference for the Wills of Royal Naval Seamen, 1786 - 1882 ADM 55 Series reference for Supplementary Logs and Journals of Ships on Exploration. ADM 139 Series reference for the Royal Navy Continuous Service Engagement Books 1853 - 1872 ADM 159 Series reference for Royal Marine service records 1842- 1936. ADM 188 Series reference for the Registers of Seamen's Services 1853 - 1924 ADM 196 Series reference for the service records of officers who served in the Royal Navy between 1756 and 1966 ADM 318 Series reference for the Women's Royal Naval Service Personal Files of Officers (Short Service) ADM 336 Series reference for Women's Royal Naval Service Ratings' Registers of Service ADM 337 Series reference for Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Service Records for the World War One period ADM 339 Series reference for the service records of the Royal Naval Division 1914 - 1919 ADM 340 Series reference for the service records of naval officers who joined the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Women’s Royal Naval Service, 1880 - 1960 Administration If a person died intestate, the court had the power to grant Letters of Administration (often abbreviated to 'Administrations' or 'Admon') to their next-of-kin, or person with a legitimate interest Admon Abbreviation for Administration AIR 50 Series reference for Second World War Air Ministry Combat Reports AIR 76 Series reference for the service records of officers who served in the Royal Air Force during the First World War AIR 80 Series reference for First World War Airwomen's Records Air gunner Aircraft crew member responsible for operating mounted machine guns or autocannons Allied Powers Great Britain, the British Empire, the USA, the USSR, France and China (in other words, the countries fighting against Nazi Germany and their allies in the Second World War) AMO Abbreviation for Army Medal Office Annuity An investment paying out on a regular basis over a given period of time Armorial A seal with a shield of arms. Sometimes it also included a crest (on a helmet) and/or supporters (on either side of shield). Army Generic term used to denote the land forces of a nation Army Medal Office Government body holding formal records of campaign and gallantry medals and other awards Attested Sworn   B Top of page  Bar Small emblem on a military decoration showing a further award of this medal Battalion Army unit comprised of several smaller companies and forming part of a regiment; the basic combat unit of an army Beneficiary The recipient of funds, property, or other benefits, from a will Bequest Property transferred through a will to an heir Boolean search Search logic in which advanced search expressions are created by using "operators" (terms such as AND, NOT, OR) to link terms in a search string. See the help for more details. BT 164 Series reference for the collection of Royal Naval Reserve Service Records. BT 351 Series reference for the collection of World War One Campaign Medals issued to Merchant Seamen. BT 389 Series reference for the collection of World War Two merchant shipping movement cards. BT 395 Series reference for the database of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen 1946-2002.   C Top of page  Campaign Medal Medals awarded to individuals (including service men and some women, along with some civilians) who served in an officially recognised organisation for active wartime service and who met the particular qualifications laid down for each campaign medal Captain (Capt) In the army, an officer who commands a company, troop, or battery; in the navy, an officer ranking above a Commander and below a Commodore (equivalent to a Colonel in the army) Clasp Metal bar or similar, clasped to the ribbon of a military decoration. Clasps were awarded according to the individual's deed or service. A Clasp could also be a further award of the same medal. Codicil An addition to a will. A codicil is made after the original will is written and there can be any number of them. Commander (Cdr) The chief commissioned officer of a military unit whatever their rank (army, navy and air force) Commissary Bishop’s court Company Sub-unit of a Battalion Consistory Bishop's court Continuation cards If a record is held on an index card it is possible that that additional entries and updates might extend on to one or more further index cards Copy will This is a copy of the original will. When the will was sent to the probate court or registry to be proved, it was copied into a register. Corporal (Cpl) in the army, a non-commissioned rank below Sergeant and above Lance Corporal; in the RAF, a non-commissioned rank below Sergeant and above Junior Technician Corps A component of the army forming a tactical unit comprised of a number of divisions Counterseal A smaller impression on the reverse, different in design to the obverse, and used as a double-authentication. The counterseal might be the more personal seal of the owner, or could belong to someone else. An abbot's personal seal could, for example, counterseal that of his abbey Court Martial Judicial court consisting of military or naval officers for the trial of military or naval offences, or the administration of martial law. There were several types of Court Martial during World War One, depending on the type of offence.   D Top of page  Datasets Digital databases preserved by The National Digital Archive of Datasets (NDAD) Deponent A person who gives a deposition or statement Digital image An electronic version of an original document or image, which has been scanned Diocese The district over which a bishop has authority Discharge book Official document certifying release from service. Entries were made in it each time a seaman signed on, or off, a merchant ship. Division Largest tactical unit of the British Army (beneath Corps) DL 25 Series reference for the seals DL 26 Series reference for the seals Dorse Verso, or the reverse Dowager A widow with a title or property derived from her late husband. It is often added to the title, for example Queen Dowager. Downloading When you download a document you are saving it on your computer   E Top of page  E 31 Series reference for Domesday Book Emblems Those individuals who were Mentioned in Despatches were given an Oak Leaf Emblem to denote such an award. If the Emblem were awarded for service in the First World War, it would be worn on the Victory Medal ribbon. Entitlement list List held by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (RGSS), indicating whether a merchant seaman was entitled to medals Equestrian Portrait of a person on horseback, usually a fully armoured knight. Estate duty A tax on the assets owned by an individual at death. This tax was introduced in 1894. Executor A male who executes the will and carries out the wishes of the deceased Executrix A female who executes the will and carries out the wishes of the deceased   F Top of page  FO 954 Series reference for the Private Office Papers of Sir Anthony Eden, Earl of Avon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1936-1938 and 1940-1945 Freehold Legal ownership of land or a building for an unlimited time   G Top of page  Gallantry Medal Medals awarded for heroic or exceptional service. More than 300,000 awards of this kind were made to men and women in World War One. Great Seal Large, double-sided seal used by a monarch with the obverse portraying the king or queen on a throne (in majesty) and the reverse normally depicting the monarch on a horse (equestrian).       H Top of page  Home Front The civilian population or the civilian activities of a country at war       I Top of page  Impressment Conscription to serve in the military or navy, usually by force and without notice. Commonly referred to as "the Press" or "press-ganging". Imprimis In the first instance; to begin with Indexed Indexed Collections are when a whole series has been scanned and a searchable index created. This allows the user to search for images using keywords. Interregnum 1649–1660: a republican period in England and Wales, comprising the Commonwealth and the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, after the regicide of Charles I and before the restoration of Charles II. Intestate Dying without having made a legal will IR 26 Series reference for the registers of Legacy Duty, Succession Duty and Estate Duty 1796-1903 INF 9 Series reference for the Dixon-Scott photographic collection   J Top of page  Jurisdiction In relation to probate records, the authority for the proving of wills and the granting of administrations in a specified district   K Top of page        L Top of page  Leading Seaman (LS) A non-commissioned rank in the navy, above Able Seaman (AS) and Ordinary Seaman (OS) Lease A written agreement where a property owner allows a tenant to use the property for a specified period of time and rent Legacy Property transferred by a will Legacy duty A tax on property transferred by a will. This tax was introduced in 1780. Legatee Person to whom a legacy has been bequeathed or left Legend The name and title of the seal owner usually beginning with SIGILLUM, seal of …, or a phrase or motto. The legend runs round the circumference of seal rather like the words on a coin today. Letters of attorney Where one person appoints another to do something on their behalf. Also known as Power of Attorney. Lieutenant (Lt) In the army, a commissioned officer below a Captain; in the navy, a commissioned officer below a Commander   M Top of page  Master Captain of a merchant ship (same as a Master Mariner). It has different meanings in the context of the Royal Navy or Royal Marines. Medal Index Cards Cards held in the series WO 372 showing the entitlement to campaign medals in the First World War. Also known as the Medal Rolls Index. Medal Rolls The original Medal Rolls, to which the Medal Index Cards refer, held in WO 329. They were created by the Army Medal Office to show the entitlement to the medals and also provide all of the accounting references for the issuing of the medal or medals. Medal Rolls Index Another name for the Medal Index Cards which refer to the Medal Rolls held in WO 329 Memorandum A will beginning with Memorandum or Memoranda means that the will was spoken and may well have been given on a person's death bed Mentioned in Despatches The award of a Mentioned in Despatches (MID) was the lowest form of recognition for services during the war, and was announced in the London Gazette MEPO 35 Series reference for the Aliens Registration Cards Mercantile Marine Office Administrative body located near ports, processing merchant navy documentation, such as ships' logs, and issuing ribbons Merchant Navy Term used in Great Britain and the Commonwealth to refer to civilian seafaring personnel (known as Merchant Marine in the US). Military authorities have used Merchant Ships and their crew during wartime. Merchant Ship Civilian cargo or passenger ship MIC Abbreviation for Medal Index Card MH 12 Series reference for workhouse correspondence MID Abbreviation for Mentioned in Despatches   N Top of page  Non-armorial A seal which is not armorial or equestrian and usually showing a scene or device.   O Top of page  Obverse The front of a seal where it is double-sided. Officer In the Merchant Navy, crew member, other than the Master, holding a Certificate of Competency. This could be a Deck or Engineering Officer. Operational theatre See Theatre of War Ordinary Seaman (OS) Lowest grade of crew member Other Ranks Soldiers, as opposed to Officers   P Top of page  PCC Prerogative Court of Canterbury PDF The PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format developed by Adobe. Most digital documents on DocumentsOnline are delivered in PDF format, and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. It is available free from Adobe's website. Personal Estate Property, other than real estate (land and buildings), owned by an individual Piece A record or records grouped together within a series POW Prisoner of War. During the First World War, approximately 7,334 officers and 174,491 men were captured. Preamble Preambles are religions references made at the beginning of a will. The start of many early wills have a very religious tone often beginning with 'In the name of God Amen' or 'In Dei Nomine Amen' in Latin, this is often followed by a formalised religious passage in which the person making the will commends his or her spirit to God. PREM 19 Series reference for the Records of the Prime Minister's Office. Prerogative Court of Canterbury The Oxford English Dictionary defines a prerogative court as "The court of an archbishop for the probate of wills and trial of testamentary causes in which effects to the value of five pounds had been left in each of two (or more) dioceses within his province". The Prerogative Court of Canterbury was the most senior church court, covering the south of England and Wales, and was based in London. On 12 January 1858 these courts ceased and jurisdiction for the granting of probate was passed to the new secular Court of Probate. Privy Seal The king’s own seal for his own correspondence. Ultimately, the control of the privy seal was given to the Privy Seal Office, and the king began to use instead a new secret seal or signet. PROB 1 PROB 1 is the name of the series of famous wills. These wills were removed from their positions in the files of original wills in PROB 10. PROB 10 PROB 10 is the name of the series of original wills signed and sealed by testators and attested by witnesses. A vast majority of the wills and sentences in PROB 10 have a registered copy in the PCC, and these copies are now available in the series PROB 11. PROB 11 PROB 11 is the name of the series of registered copy wills from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury for the years 1384-1858 Probate Evidence that a document offered as the last will and testament of the deceased had been accepted by the court and that the Executor or Executrix has been granted permission to carry out the provisions of the will Probate Records A probate record is a will. The Oxford English Dictionary defines probate as "The official proving of a will; also, the officially verified copy of the will together with the certificate of its having been proved, which are delivered to the executors." Province Area over which an archbishop has authority Proving The granting of probate; approval by a judge that a will contains the last wishes of the deceased Proxy Someone who acts in the place of someone else   Q Top of page  Quire A quire consists of eight leaves (which equates to sixteen pages). Every 16th page of each will in PROB 11 is given a quire number.   R Top of page  Rank Level of authority held by an officer or soldier Ratings In the Merchant Navy, Non-Officer crew members. They would include Deck, Engineering and Catering crew. Real Estate A piece of land and any structures on it Red Duster Another name for the Red Ensign, which has been the flag of the Merchant Navy since 1864 Regiment A large body of troops, organised under the command of a superior officer, and forming a definite unit of an army or military force; the specific name of the largest permanent unit of the cavalry, infantry, and foot-guards of the British Army since the 17th century Regimental Number A unique number given to each new recruit to a regiment Registry of Shipping and Seamen The main source for tracing details of merchant seamen and shipping, especially from the 18th century onwards. Previously called the General Register and Record Office of Seamen. Similarly, the RGSS is the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. For more information see the research guide Merchant Seamen: Records of the RGSS, A Guide to Research guides. Relict Widow, widower or person left after a testator or testatrix dies Residuary Legatee Legatee who gets everything remaining in the will Residue Whatever remains after all claims have been satisfied Reverse The back of a seal where it is double-sided. RGSS Abbreviation for Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen Ribbon A ribbon or strip of cloth showing the award of a decoration or medal Royal Fleet Auxiliary Merchant seamen in support role for the Royal Navy, helping to maintain operations away from home ports by supplying food, fuel and so on. Sometimes abbreviated to RFA. RSS Abbreviation for Registry of Shipping and Seamen   S Top of page  SC 8 Series reference for the Ancient Petitions Sentence A judgement about a disputed will given at the conclusion of litigation. A sentence does not necessarily contain the same details as a will so we have differentiated between the two. Therefore, when you search, your search results will be described as either a will or a sentence. Sergeant (Sgt) Once more commonly spelt as 'serjeant'. In the army, a non-commissioned officer next in rank above a Corporal; in the marines, a non-commissioned rank below Colour Sergeant and above Corporal; in the air force, a non-commissioned rank below Chief Technician and above Corporal Series The main grouping of records held by The National Archives, based on common function or subject Ship’s Log A document recording information about a ship, its voyages and any occurrences on board Silver War Badge Awarded to all military personnel who were discharged as a result of sickness or wounds contracted or received during the First World War, either at home or overseas. SP 64 Series reference for the Early Irish maps from State Papers c.1558 - c.1610. SSL SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a technology developed by Netscape Communications Corporation. There is more information in the help. Succession duty A tax on the legal transfer of the deceased’s assets and rights to their heirs. This tax was introduced in 1853.   T Top of page  Territorial force Equivalent to today’s Territorial Army (TA), the Territorial Force (TF) was comprised of volunteer men who trained as soldiers on a part-time basis Testament A will. This is a formal document setting out what a person wants to happen to their possessions after their death. Testator A man who has made his last will and testament Testatrix A woman who has made her last will and testament Theatre of War Geographic area in which military operations are carried out. This information is available on the Medal Index Cards. Throwster Occupation: person who twists silk into a thread   U Top of page  Unit Any grouping or component comprising part of the organisational structure of an army   V Top of page        W Top of page  White Ensign This ensign is for use of the Royal Navy. It flies in RN ships and the Royal Yacht Squadron and over RN shore establishments. The White Ensign became the sole ensign of the Royal Navy in 1864 Wildcard A symbol such as * which can be used instead of one or more letters when the spelling of a word is not certain. You can use wildcards in the Quick Search and the Advanced Search, for example, "sm*th". Will A formal document setting out what a person wants to happen to their possessions after their death WO 98 Series reference for the Victoria Cross Registers WO 161 Series reference for the World War One British Prisoner of War interviews and reports WO 329 Series reference for the World War One original formal Medal Rolls, to which the medal cards (held in WO 372) are the index WO 372 Series reference for the World War one Medal Cards Index WO 373 Series reference for the Army Honours and Awards for Gallant and Distinguished Service WO 398 Series reference for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (1917-1918), later Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (1918-1920) WO 399 Series reference for the First World War Nursing Service Records. WW1 Abbreviation for World War One WW2 Abbreviation for World War Two   X Top of page        Y Top of page        Z Top of page