This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Baird Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Eg.2ADE/193.1 Message Board Post: I am the fellow that is listed as "William Jepsen Baird, Jr." That's a sentimental gesture that Bill (William Jepsen Baird) put forward in his declining years. I was born, baptised and christened as "William J Baird" (no middle name, no middle initial). It was never very comforting that I had a brother ALSO named William (William Thomas Baird, aka "Tommy"), and even more exacerbated by the fact that it was too clear to me growing up that this man, who never denied me, was in fact NOT my father. I took to changing the stand-alone "J" in my name when I was fifteen to "Justin". While I've never amended Social Security records, it appears on sufficient public documents to give the name force (Mortgages, credit cards, marriage and divorce certificates, etc.), and beginning at age 18 begin to prefer being called by that name "Justin". Often, due to legal requirements, I will alternatively be "William Justin Baird" or "W. Justin Baird". I have, however, never been known in any way as William Jepsen Baird, Jr. until Papa Bill began to sense the end of his life was near. Some time before his death I had a DNA test run on both of us to assure that my fears was either correct or misplaced. It became clear through the results that there was only a .05% chance of his being my father, and with that news, he finally shared his views on that. His discretion and chivalry, no matter what any others had ever said of him, was respectful and appropriate. His admission when I requested it was welcomed and honored. I loved this man who I had a tenous and odd and often distant relationship with. He was never my father, except in the eyes of the law. He was never my Dad. But he'll always remain my Papa Bill. - Justin Baird (William Justin Baird, but never Wm Jepsen Baird, Jr.)