Hi List, I have been reading a fascinating book by Bill Bryson called "Shakespeare". On page 110 he discusses the variable & casual approach taken to spelling in the Elizabethan era. Christopher Marlowe signed his own name "Cristofer Marley" in his only surviving signature! His university records at Cambridge are for "Christopher Marlen". He was also called Morley & Merlin! Philip Henshaw sometimes signed himself "Hensley" & others wrote Hinshley, Hinchlow, Hensclow, Hynchlowes, Inchlow, Hinchloe....There are eighty different known spellings of Shakespeare from Shappere to Shaxberd! No wonder we struggle to find our ancestors! >From Jenny, Sydney, Australia http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~becher/index.htm