These are actually very good clues, but it also depends what religion they were. In the Quaker religion, the first male was usually the wife's father, the 2nd male was the husband's father, the 1st daughter was the husband's mother and the 2nd daughter was the wife's. They usually didn't name any child after themselves, but the rest were often named after each of their siblings in order from oldest to youngest. Great clues. At 08:29 PM 11/16/00 -0800, you wrote: >Well, this certainly changes things...:) the exception must have been the >Coats families...<g> > >Char > >Let's see Rev Will: >First son: James - Rev Will's father >Second son: William - Nancy's father >Third son: was that Wilson? oops wrong father...<g>... >First daughter: Mary - Nancy's mother - that would be right >Second daughter: Rachel - father's mother - I think this could be correct >as well... > >Boy, the males just don't fall in line though.... > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >OLD NAMING PATTERNS > > >The first son was named after the father's father. > >The second son was named after the mother's father. > >The third son was named after the father. > >The fourth son was named after the fathers eldest brother. > >The first daughter was named after the mother's mother. > >The second daughter was named after the father's mother. > >The third daughter was named after the mother. > >The fourth daughter was named after the mothers eldest sister, always. > > >ALSO: >2nd wife's oldest daughter named after the first wife, using her full >name. >Children after those listed above were usually named after a favorite >relative with some possible exceptions: >If a child died in infancy, a later child might be given the same name. >When a newly ordained minister baptized his first child, if that child >were >a boy, he would be named for the minister, if a girl, she would receive >his >surname as her middle name. >If a child were fostered, usually because of being orphaned, he may be >named for the foster parent. >If you are sure that you have the earliest birth or baptisms and that >they >are in the correct order then, if John's first son is named Charles and >his >second daughter is named Elizabeth then John's parents must be Charles >and >Elizabeth.___________________________________________________________ >Get more from your time online. FREE MSN Explorer download : >http://explorer.msn.com > > >==== COATES Mailing List ====