This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jimbartlett1 Surnames: FLEMING Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.fleming/2282.1.1.3.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The vast majority of Colonists could not read or right - the county clerk/census taker/minister/etc wrote the names in the records - they generally tried to write what they heard. If a spelling change occurred, it was probably because clerk changed - in general the Colonists couldn't read and didn't know what was written. I would be very skeptical of any family story from Colonial times about Colonists wanting to change the spelling of their names (unless a lawyer advised them there was an inheritance due to people with a particular spelling). Jim Bartlett descendant of James FLEMING 1744-1833, LT, wounded in RevWar, from Frederick Co, MD 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.