Betty and others with similar questions. . . One of the best approaches is to try to find where the spelling departed from what is considered nearly standard for the Geraldines. If it happened in this country, there is probably a reason for it: strong brogue, religious difference, lack of ease with the English language as opposed to Irish Gaelic, etc. As our very good friend in Tipperary said, "They could spell in the Irish, but not in the English!" "Keep 'em dumb (illiterate) and down on the farm, and they won't bother anyone" seems to have been a frequent plan of the landowners or their agents. As one of the family said in print a few years back, he had met a Priest and a wedding in the US, introduced himself, and the Priest nodded and said, "It wasn't too long ago that there were so many FitzGeralds being hung from trees (for anti-English activity) that people thought it was the name of a fruit." Sure when the whole country knew one name group was in deep trouble from those in control of the economy and the government, they looked for any means of taking cover for security. Change the name, change the spelling, change the pronunciation, all will help, because it is my impression that some people take pride in "not being able to pronounce anything but an English name correctly". I had a boss like that back in 1951. Chuck FitzGerald : > Subject: Re: Tipperary Fitzgeralds > Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 16:08:22 -0500 > From: "Betty Davis" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > > My ggrandfather, his father, and brother, spelled their name GERELDS. I found a Frederick Gerelds had served in Civil War, Battery D, 1st R.I. Light Artillery, and applied for a pension for service on 28 Aug.1892. Pension Application was denied but in that applications several affidavits were in the paperwork I received - several from Tolland County at Rockville, Conn. > A notation in the paperwork states Frederick L. Gerelds was born Federick L. Jerrolds. Occupation was listed as a house painter. There is a Mrs. Martha Gerelds, physician, listed in Worcester, MA City Directory for 1892 and 1893. Is she connected to your family? > > My research is at a total halt. Do you think this paperwork on Frederick Gerelds could be in the same family you are researching? I have been going on the assumption Geralds/Gerelds/Jerrells/etc. is a variation on Fitzgeralds. Best regards. > > Betty > r > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: John Fitzgerald > Date: 14 Sep 2001 20:59:26 -0600 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/1cW.2ACIB/1100 > > Message Board Post: > > I'm looking for info on my ggggrandfather. His wife is Jemima Hacker. I have info on his son John whose wife was Leah Phillips but can't find any infor on him. He was born abt 1758. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: Tipperary Fitzgeralds > Date: 15 Sep 2001 04:34:03 -0600 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Query > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/1cW.2ACIB/1018.2.1 > > Message Board Post: > > Ione Harrel - Unfortunately our Maurice Fitzgeralds are two; mine was married before 1809 in Burncourt, Co. Tipperary; yours was alive until 1913. Thanks and Good Hunting. > Chuck FitzGerald