Genealogy Chat

In some old records I've come across it refers to 'relict', e.g daughter of R. Hawgood Crew relict of Henry Tredcroft Esqs but I don't know what it means. An explanation/definition would be much appreciated. Many thanks Harriet

thanks Sam - that makes sense although in this instance it does bring complicated family relationships into play which is going to take some working out. It appears that a widowed mother-in-law married the daughter-in-law's father - good thing they didn't have children because then I'd be lost as to what the ensuing relationships would be! Harriet

Don't know if this helps, from wikidpedia: A relict was also an ancient term for a widow, but has come to be a generic or collective term for widows and widowers.

This question has also arisen with Australian distant relatives. It seems there is a possibility that relict also means a transportee who has served his/her time. The woman in question went to Australia when very young and lost no time in producing children. Her example was followed by her children and grandchildren and I think great grandchildren - she was well over 90 when she died with very, very, numerous descendants! Incredibly she also managed to find time to build up a business and become rich. Clive

Clive The English meaning of relict is definitely widow, in the very early years, when men owned their wives. It was rarely used for the male - a man who had lost his wife was not particularly to be pitied, as he could soon get another one, whereas a widow was expected to grieve decently for the rest of her life. I have not heard of the term used in any other sense, but then I don't have any Australian relatives! OC

When I was transcribing gravestones, I found a family inscribed on one stone, the last bit of which said 'Hannah, relict of above', but judging by Hannah's age in relation to the above people, I guessed she was their daughter. Is this a possibility or could she just have been a very young second wife?

Hang about OC - it's not that long since men could sell their wives (I assume the practice is no longer allowed?). More seriously I spent quite a lot of effort in investigating the word 'relict' in Australian use in the19th century. In a couple of newspaper reports it could not have meant widow as the women concerned had not been married. They were however timed expired convicts. I also think the Australians - whoops keep quiet before I cause offence. Clive

That's interesting to know, Clive - yet another example of the english language meaning entirely different things, depending on where in the world you live!!! OC

Hi all, The word relict is described as follows in the Free On-Line Dictionary:- 'rel·ict (rlkt, r-lkt) n. 1. Ecology An organism or species of an earlier time surviving in an environment that has undergone considerable change. 2. Something that has survived; a remnant. 3. A widow. adj. Geology Of or relating to something that has survived, as structures or minerals after destructive processes.' In relation to the Australian 'usage' it would have meant that the women were survivors or remnants of the convict transportation system. It means the same everywhere it just depends on the context. Paul

Paul That was interesting. I think it was the Sydney Herald but may have been a Melbourne paper which suggested it might have been a misprint for relic (of the convict transportation age) - and that comes very close to the definition you just gave. Clive