I don't know where to look to find this answer?

Question

I have a document from the late 1700's in which Matthew Whitfield is referred to as Matthew, Jr. and in the same document he is also referred to as Matthew the younger. Are these interchangeable terms and do they mean that his father was Matthew Sr.? Are there web sites where this kind of information can be found?

Answer 1

Back then, many sons were named after their father.

The term Jr and the Younger both mean the same, that the father had the same name.

The father is sometimes referred to as Sr or Snr or the Elder.

It is also possible that Matthew the younger is the son of Matthew the elder, and that Matthew Jr is the son of Matthew the younger.

This is not likely in your case, as you know that the Jr and the younger refer to the same person

Answer 2

yes,i think so...but i dont know ant websites about it

Answer 3

It has been shown by valid records, that IN THE 1700s, Sr and Jr did NOT always refer to a father-son relationship. On some instances, in public records, it was 2 men of the name, but sometimes uncle and nephew.

If this document is something like a land record.. and there is a transfer or other legal transaction, the probability is very high that they are father/son.