TIP#122 – DEFINITIONS CONTINUED – M’s:

Macstar: One who kept chickens or sold eggs.

Madstone: A poultice composed of natural or man-made materials which has been soaked in

warm sweet milk or water. Very well known in various areas of KY, a madstone

was believed by superstitious people to cure rabies when applied to the site of the

wound. In this area of the state, a madstone was supposedly taken from the body of

of a deer; if the bite was not poisonous, the stone would fall off the wound. If it was

poisonous, the stone would adhere. It was often passed from generation to generation

and people would come for miles for the madstone cure.

Magistrate: A government official, a non-military position. He was allowed to issue arrest

warrants.

Mail Coach: The Post Office used this special wagon, built for speed rather than comfort. It held

3 passengers. Discontinued with the introduction of the stage coach lines.

Maisterman: Husband, governor or ruler.

Mala fide: “In bad faith.” – a person was attempting to deceive.

Malaria: A disease caused by the bite of a mosquito which causes chills and fever.

Mandamus: Found in old records – this was a special order which demanded the an individual who

had signed a contract to do what had been ordered of him.

Mania: Insanity.

Mango: A child who was 7/8ths black.

Mania

Puerperium: Postpartum blues.

Manufactory: Factory.

Manumission: Freeing of a slave.

Marasmus: Wasting away of the body – also known as emanciation.

March stone: A stone used to mark the boundary.

Mariti: Marriage, also shown maritus.

Marker: A surveyorÂ’s assistant who marked the lines.

Marriage bond: Taken from Colonial times, this was money which was promised, normally by the parents

Or close relative of a couple to the Governor. This was to show that there was no legal

or moral reason the couple why the couple couldnÂ’t marry. If the marriage was not

fulfilled, the money was paid.

Marriage

Certificate: A document completed by a minister showing that the marriage had taken place.

Marriage

Contract: Normally found when one or both of the parties had been married previously. They

sought to protect their holdings from the previous marriage.

Marriage contrary

To discipline: A Quaker term implying that the individuals had been married in a civil ceremony.

Marriage license: Issued by the county which gave consent for the couple to marry.

Marriage

Register: The book listing all the licenses issued, kept in the county clerkÂ’s office.

Marriage return: Completed by the minister showing the wedding had taken place, when and who.

Marriage

Settlement: A document completed by the couple if necessary before marriage which could handle

Inheritances, raising of children by a previous marriage – pre-nuptial agreement.

Mason: One who shaped or laid brick, stones, etc.

Masonic Lodge: Fraternal organization.

Master-in-

Chancery: An assistant judge who heard various cases and made recommendations to the judge.

Matron: Married woman, mature woman.

Mattock: A digging tool similar to a pick-axe.

Maw bound: Constipated.

McClellan

Saddle: Standard issue saddle in the US Cavalry units.

Mead month: July.

Meander lines: During surveying, these imaginary lines denoted lands bordered by a waterway which

“meandered.”

Medicus: Physician.

Medulary sarcoma

Of bladder: Malignant (normally) tumor of the bladder.

Melanuria: An illness causing oneÂ’s urine to be black or dark blue.

Mell doors: Doors in the middle of the house.

Mensa et

Thoro: A legal separation of a husband and wife.

Mente captus: Insane.

Metes: Term for water courses, distances etc. in a survey. Refers to the distance of a line and

The direction.

Metes & bounds: A type of survey also called an indiscriminate survey.

Mexican War: Fought between 1846-1848 – a struggle between the U.S. and Mexico. This was brought

about by AmericanÂ’s desire to expand its borders. The result of the war was the addition

of lands from the Oklahoma panhandle to the Pacific Ocean.

M.G.: Minister of the Gospel.

Middle states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and sometimes Maryland.

Midwife: A woman trained (sometimes) in the delivery of a child.

Midwinter: Christmas.

Milch: Milk. In many wills milch cows were noted.

Military certi-

ficate: A document showing that a soldierÂ’s proof of his military service has been shown to

and recorded by the authorities, and the amount of land he was entitled to receive. One

claim per soldier.

Military land: Public lands reserved for the soldiers of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 as

Payment for their service.

Military Ranks: Revolutionary War: General (Washington only), Lieutenant General, Major General,

Brigadier General, Colonel, County Lieutenant, Major, Captain, Captain-Lieutenant,

First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant. Navy ranks same war: Admiral, Vice-Admiral,

Rear-Admiral, Commodore, Captain of 40 or more on a gun ship – Captain of 10-20

Gun ship and Captain 20-40 gun ship.

Military

Reservation: Land dedicated by the President unable to be used by the general public.

Military

Uniforms: Those approved by General Washington were homespun shirts with like pants. The

First officers had ribbons of different colors on the shoulder.

Military warrant: The Land office issued this document requesting land to be set aside for a veteran

for his military service. The land had to be located in Ohio or Kentucky.

Militia

District: An area containing 100 or more men, 21years of age or older who were eligible for

militia duty.

Milk fever: Caused from an infected cut – normally from dairy cows after they had calved.

Milk leg: Thrombosis. Occurred normally after childbirth.

Mill: A structure or machine used to grind various substances – corn, wheat, apples, etc.

These were powered by steam, water, horses.

Miller: One who ran the mill – also called millward.

Mill fleam: Sluice

Mill lodge: Pond.

Millpeck: One who sharpened the millstones.

Mill pond: Above the mill dam which stored the water used for the water wheel of a mill.

Mill stones: Cutting stones, always two of them.

Millwright: A master designer or builder of mills.

Minor: Anyone under the age of 21 – 18 is some states.

Minute book: Written records of a courtÂ’s actions during its sessions.

Miscegenation: Marriage between two people of different races.

M. L.: Military land.

M. L. E.: Military land entry.

M. L. W.: Military land warrant

M. O.: Mustered out.

M/o: mother of.

Moiety: an equal share.

Moleday: The day of burial.

Moon men: Thieves and robbers.

Moonshine: Illegal distilled liquors.

Morbo loacteo: Milk sickness.

Morbus

Coxarius: Disease of the hip joint.

Mortality

Schedule: List of those dying from June 30 to June 30 during a census year.

Mortification: Slow dying of the flesh.

Mortis causa: Cause of death.

Movable estate: Personal property.

Mr. LincolnÂ’s

War: Civil War.

Mulatto: ½ black, ½ white.

Muster Day: A day set aside for state militia men (age 18-45) to meet for military inspection and

Inspection, training. Repealed after the Civil War.

Muster Roll: list of officers and men in a military organization. Includes name, rank, absences, etc.

Musstifee: 1/16th black.

Mustifino: 1/32nd black.

Myelitis: An inflammation of the bone marrow.

Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle.

© Copyright 10 February 1998, Sandra K. Gorin, All rights reserved. sgorin@glasgow-ky.com