Dear Marion and Tom, et al: I think it's probably a combination of your two ideas set forth here. I know that nicknames and "going by your name of choice" can add to difficulty in tracing people. I also know that spelling of public recorder-types can create virtual nightmares, too. One of my "other" families I'm working on is Plikert which became in public records (in Clermont County alone) Plackard, Plishard, Placecard, Plikert. And that name seems a lot easier to deal with than Beckelhymer/Bettlescheimer/P'simer, etc.! Are we collecting all these $0.02 worth for the Behymer Geneological fund? Where do I send my check? ---Susan (who is NOT an expert in geneology but is becoming an expert in figuring out any possible way to mangle surnames of ancestors in order to track 'em down!!) PS- BTW, Marion, I think I'll be in your area of the world very soon......I'll give you a call so we can see if we can get together!! -----Original Message----- From: MARriposa@aol.com <MARriposa@aol.com> To: BEHYMER-L@rootsweb.com <BEHYMER-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, September 29, 1998 10:10 PM Subject: Spelling >A lot of the different names could be the older ways of spelling were more >like approximations than our 20th century ways. Remember, people were a lot >less schooled. They also had fewer reference books. People probably then, as >now, went by different versions of their birth name, according to what they >liked. >I was named Mary Ann, but I go by Marion and had it officially changed. I >could certainly see John and Jonathon or Enos and Enoch being the same person. >Also, remember these people came from German heritage and were in an English- >speaking country. >I'm not an expert on geneology like many of you. That is just my two cents >worth. >Marion vonBeck >