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From: <>
Subject: Re: Meaning of the term Esquire
Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 12:16:48 EDT

It means and meant a country gentleman and or a lawyer. The term is derived
from English use.
According to Black's Law Dictionary Fourth Edition In English Law it was a
title of dignity next above gentleman, and below knight. Also a title of
office given to sheriffs, serjeants, and barristers at law, justices of the
peace, and others.
A Serjeant is a term used to describe certain grades of legal practitioners
and certain officers of legislative bodies (particularly in England). An
example would be a Serjeant at Arms often misspelled Sergeant at Arms. A
Serjeant at Arms is an executive officer appointed by and attending on, a
legislative body, whose principal duties are to execute its warrants,
preserve order, and arrest offenders. SERJEANTIA IDEM EST QUOD SERVITIUM.
Serjeanty is the same as service.

Jack Bender, III Esquire
Halstead, Kansas

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