Susan King, I have experience in the Shenandoah Valley with two of my German (Mennonite-though apparently non-practicing) ancestors, Christian/Christopher COKONOUGHER (Jr. & Sr.). The two given names were used interchangeably by the tax and Census takers, but they seemed to have used primarily Christian in deed records, though not exclusively. With abbreviations, the given name could be found about 5 ways. It was the surname that really had all the spelling variations---over 50 identified (as with so many of the German names). Bob Fetters, descendant of Hessian Cpl. John Henry Hammer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan King" <susanking@carolina.rr.com> To: <AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 9:51 AM Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Re: Wagner / Bonstein researchers > Thanks for your replay, Michael. The man you mention would certainly be an > option. Honestly, I'm at a loss as to how I'm ever going to determine if > the Christopher near Oldtown, MD in 1792 was indeed a "Hessian". Other than > land records, censuses and tax lists, I don't know that any further > documentation exists on my Christopher. And it wouldn't be something he > advertised, right? > > Just to tell you how I've come to this point...I began researching the > Hessian possibility as a result of our oral family history. My grandfather, > before he died, told me the "Hessian mercenary" story. Then a cousin from > an entirely different line said she had been told the same thing by a great > aunt. When a recently found cousin from yet another line told me that > whenever his grandparents had been asked about our Waggoner roots, they were > scolded and told never to ask again because the early Waggoners were nothing > to be proud of. So, that, given the dates and the locations in MD and > southern PA, spurred me to check into the theory. No doubt of the German > origin. > > Unless I hit paydirt with a record of some kind in Allegany Co., MD, I'm not > sure where to go with it at this point. ??? > > I have noticed that the names Christopher and Christian are often > questioned, probably, unfortunately because they are often abbreviated. > But, does anyone know if they are basically interchangeable? Could one or > the other be similar to a nickname? > > Thanks! > > Susan > > > > ==== AMREV-HESSIANS Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe click on AMREV-HESSIANS-L-request@rootsweb.com > and write one single word unsubscribe in subject line and text field. > No other words or explanations or it won't work. > See our HESSIAN SOLDIER plaque - http://www.crbronzeworks.com/hessian/ >