I've been following this string with interest because for the first time I've started transcribing deaths & have noticed the period after the forename. I thought that it was there to separate names from ages in the columns. (And yes I'm a guilty party who has omitted them, sorry) Being an incredible hoarder of 'rubbish' I also have most of my previous transcription photocopies (marriages & a few births) so I looked at them & except for the cases where the middle name is an initial can't see a period for the forenames used. Would we expect to see them in marriages & Births too? Regards Susannah Miles PS I normally do obey the 'Type What You See' rule - honest.