I've been going over what little there is of family records for my great grandfather on my father's side, surname Fleckenstein. There are some family oral history records suggesting that Arthur Adam came to Brooklyn in the late 1880s to replace his brother Joseph ? in Brooklyn who had died and left his family without financial support. I've heard of this, and it was not uncommon for the times. It seems that RC church and legal documents (I have some of the originals), call Arthur Adam, Adam Arthur. Same with my grandfather born in 1901. Now here is where things get strange.. 1900 census lists great grandfather coming to USA in 1890 1910 census shows immigration in 1888 1902 naturalization documents says 1889 1918 obit quotes his wife as saying he lived in USA for 35 years, making the date 1883. Also said he died in a hospital after a short illness. Sure wish I knew which short illness it was. Castle Garden has no hits for Adam or Arthur in the time frame but potential hits for a John in the right time frame. Both 1900 and 1910 census say his wife came to the USA in 1885, but only plausible hit on Castle Garden web site suggests the date was 1883. She had 11 children, 6 survived. A official birth certificate printed in 1931 for my grandfather who was born in 1901 lists his name as Arthur Adam with fathers name Adam. His original 1902 RC baptism certificate lists my grandfathers name as Adam John ??? as does online database for Our Lady of Sorrows RC church in Brooklyn. And I still have not found any hint of Joseph anywhere, anyplace... And I haven't gone nuts yet after working with this off and on for over 10 years. Now I know why the professionals make the big bucks.. I guess they didn't worry about accuracy a hundred years ago... or is there more to it.. Steve