Daily AncestorIssue
Issue in a will or deed means a person's children and all their descendants; died without issue means left no living descendants.
Webster's 1828 dictionary defines issue as progeny, a child or children, offspring. In legal use it covers every lineal descendant, not just children: grandchildren and great-grandchildren are issue too. It does not include a spouse, brothers and sisters, or cousins.
Died without issue tells you the person left no living descendants, which is why property then went to siblings or other kin. Issue of the half blood or whole blood specifies which parents the children shared.
As seen in a recordDevise in a will, 1810s
and if my son Jethro shall die without issue, then the said land to go to my daughter Prudence
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Issue." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/relationships/issue. Last checked 2026-10-12.