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Archiver > DUMFRIES-GALLOWAY > 2001-05 > 0989201315


From: Crawford MacKeand <>
Subject: Re: Meaning of "Esquire"
Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 22:08:40 -0400 (EDT)
In-Reply-To: <3AF6307E.30278FD7@ns.sympatico.ca>


The use of Esq. meant the recipient was considered to be a "gentleman", or
approximately, one whose livelihhod was not earned by the sweat of his
brow. It was quite precisely defined at one time (Victorian era) and as I
remember, the son of a University graduate was considered an Esquire,
although oddly enough, the graduate himself was not! The son of an Esq.
was an Esq. Class will tell, you know!

Incidentally, here in Delaware, and for all I know, in other states too,
the title Esq. is still used, but it refers exclusively to a lawyer
admitted to the State bar. So nothing unusual to see Elizabeth Smith, Esq.

Similarly, does anyone else remember seeing mail addressed to Master John
Jones?? I think that died about WW2, but it was still fairly common in the
1930s as an address for a young son, usually one under age about ten.

Crawford.



On Sun, 6 May 2001, Judith Graham wrote:

>
> Can anyone comment on the use of Esquire after a person's name in
> Scotland, if it was used there, how it started and what it means in
> modern terms? I know it was used in the 1950's and 60's in Nova Scotia.
> I seem to remember that when Esq. was used, as in "John Smith, Esq.", it
> was not correct to use "Mr." at the same time. A person on another list
> wondered about it, as have I.
> Judi Graham
>

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