descents. A succession of degrees from the origin; it is the state of the family as far as regards the relationship of the different members, their births, marriages and deaths; this term is applied to persons or families, who trace their origin or descent. 2. On account of the difficulty of proving in the ordinary manner by living witnesses, facts which occurred in remote times, hearsay evidence has-been admitted to prove a pedigree. Lineage; line of ancestors from which a person descends; genealogy. An account or register of a line of ancestors. Family relationship.
PEDIGREE
TheLaw.com Law Dictionary & Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed.