Yes I agree it is unfortunate that so often we have trouble reading the blotchy handwriting from times gone by... or find references where the script is so faint letters have disappeared.  Or we find that part of a page has deteriorated or been water stained smearing the ink into puddles of ink...    We celebrate when we find something that is clear and has enough detail to actually help us! Another thing to consider.  Spelling was anything but standardized and this can also create issues when trying to find a name to trace.  It is a good idea to check all the various possibilities you think the name might be....  in some times in history we see marriages that stay within a trade or industry (like blacksmiths, glass makers, tin or iron workers, etc. ) Laura >________________________________ > From: Thomas Johnson <bachjohanns@yahoo.com> >To: "baden-wurttemberg@rootsweb.com" <baden-wurttemberg@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Monday, March 3, 2014 6:39 AM >Subject: [BW] another mysterious word > > >Thank you, Patricia and Laura, for your kind comments which have given me food for thought - perhaps this ancestor's surname is NOT >Baumann after all :)  > >I can sincerely say that if genealogy were easy, it wouldn't be as rewarding. > >Thomas Johnson > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BADEN-WURTTEMBERG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >