Daily AncestorInfant
In older legal records an infant is anyone under the age of majority (often 21), not just a baby.
In law, infant meant a minor: anyone under the age of majority. A court record may call a 19-year-old an infant, which confuses readers who expect a baby.
Look for phrases such as infant heirs or by his next friend. They tell you the person was under age, but not how young.
As seen in a recordCase heading in a chancery suit
Jno. Hart, an infant, by Saml. Ross his next friend
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Infant." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/relationships/infant. Last checked 2026-10-01.