This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Sallie_Cannon Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.burch/110.576.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I can only offer possibilities in ref. to birth certificate showing him as L. Volney Burch. My experience - my mother didn't have a good birth certificate as the record show only Robert J. Haywood's, infant Mar 11, 1919. So when she needed a birth certificate to apply for a job, she filed a delayed birth certificate. Her original name was Sarah Camilla Haywood, but she was always called "Sallie", so on her birth certificate she named herself Sallie Camilla Haywood. My point is that she didn't stick with her original name. I've seen where Valentine I. Burch descendants, that have also been named Valentine, have gone by the name Vol, Valley, or Val, so the Volney, might have been a nice-name. What is the source of your finding his name as Laneson V. Burch? Also wanted to add - I have been in touch with someone on this Valentine Burch board and I mentioned that Martha Jane Burch, daughter of Valentine & Helen Cauble Burch, married John Butler, during the Civil War. Descendants thought that their child had died. The story is: The son of Martha Jane Burch and John Butler, went to live with his grandfather, yankee general Benjamin F. Butler, who was strongly hated in Louisiana. He was known as "Silver Spoons" because he stole so much of the riches from the rich or from plantations including the dinner ware, He was know as "The Beast" because of the way he treated women. He was supposedly a genius in armament and ammunition, very powerful and rich, born in New Hampshire, schooled and lived in Massachusettes. He was Govenor of Mass., in the House of Represenatives, Commander of the Army of the James during the Civil War, and Democrartic nominee for President of US. When Ben Butler left New Orleans, he took the child back up north. - Sallie scannon@gt.rr.com Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.