Terms Used in Colonial Days

Some Expressions Used by Colonial Settlers

"Tithable"

For many years, taxes were levied only on persons, not on property. A tithable was a person who was subject to taxation. All male persons sixteen years of age and servants of that age of both sexes were tithable. Money was given in pounds and shillings. But the colonial pound was not the pound sterling. The pound was twenty shillings, the shilling twelve pence.

“Gentleman”

This term always imparted a particular social or official distinction. According to their property and family connections, the grades appear to have been servants, yeomen, and planters, who seem to have been "gentlemen " or not. To become a justice, sheriff, vestryman, etc., was to acquire the entitlement, at least, of "Gentleman."

“Planter” meant a farmer having 20 slaves or more.

“Prison Bounds.” An area, not exceeding ten acres, about the jail where prisoners not committed for treason or felony had liberty, on giving security, to continue until discharged: mainly for the benefit of persons imprisoned for debt, the privilege lasting only one year.

“Benefit of Clergy.” This was immunity from capital punishment for a first offense, initially only for people who could read, but later greatly extended to embrace even slaves—abolished about 1796.

“The Test.” In colonial times, this was the oath one swears.