Research Tips....The Never Ending Story!

Earlier today, I said to stay tuned for more tips.  Well, the Red Sox  are tied 4 - 4 with the Seattle Mariners in the 13th inning but here goes!

How do you spell Morrison?  One "R" or 2...One "S" or 2.

How do you spell Guenthner?  "Genthner" or "Gunthner" or... you get it, right?

My own paternal line is a prime example.  My 4th great grandfather used ROBISON, ROBINSON and ROBERTSON interchangeably. As a matter of fact, his grave marker reads "HESAKIAH ROBRSON"!

[caption id="attachment_1095" align="aligncenter" width="289"] Yet another way to spell Hezekiah Robinson[/caption]

I rest my case with this common research predicament: When it comes to how your ancestors spelled their name, be creative and take a second and third look at "creative" spelling.  Often you'll need to find several sources that you must use to compare and contrast while working to solve any contradictions in order to make a reasonable decision as to whether or not you have the right document or person.  It's a challenge!

So much for the family names.  Now, is it Michael P Flanagan?  Or Mike? Maybe it's Mickey?  And don't forget to take a close look at Patrick M Flanagan.   Or is it Paddy or Pat?  How the name appears depends on many factors.  The nature of the document: census, deed, death certificate, veterans pension application and the list goes on.  Other factors include the informant.  Rarely was a male head of household the informant in a census record.  They were, hopefully, either working or looking for work.

So who gave the information?  The wife?  One of the kids?  Even the neighbor!!  Enumerators were paid based on the number of names they recorded.  They were financially motivated to account for everyone and they used whatever means that were at their disposal to get the data.  If Mary referred to her husband for the past 30 years or so as Paddy, she may not have reported his "proper" name, Michael Patrick Flanagan.

See the challenge!  And these are common, easily pronounced and spelled northern European names.  How about German names, Polish names, Russian names.  How did it SOUND to the enumerator when he was interviewing a non-English speaking immigrant?  What he or she wrote is not necessarily a perfect transcription of what the name really is.  Is it Yacob, Jacob, John?  Is it Mordecai, Morrie or just Moe?

The lesson is to keep your eyes open and MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS!  A friend of mine is challenged with the name KIELY.  Is it "KILEY", "KELLY", "KEILY" or "KIELEY"?  The answer is "YES"!!

As I mentioned earlier, my own paternal family name appears as ROBISON, ROBINSON or ROBERTSON within the very same family in many instances.  The previously mentioned Hezekiah was a veteran of the War of 1812 who died in 1852.  His widow, Tabitha, as well as all widows in former Confederate States were not allowed to apply for their pensions until 1878!  She was 86 years old by that time and, unfortunately , illiterate.  She had a formidable task to convince the War Department that her husband was at the same time, Robison, Robinson and Robertson as he appeared in various contemporary military records!  She finally received her incredibly small pension in 1881, 2 years before she died!

[caption id="attachment_1098" align="aligncenter" width="139"] One of the many rejections Tabitha received based on the "name issue". This one dated February 1879.[/caption]