Just have to add another thought about name spellings. I have one surname HILTIBIDAL that I have over 50, yes 50, variations in my data. So I have them ALL written where I can get to them easily, with the various Soundex codes, so if I am really on a tear I won't overlook anything! Isn't it fun!!!! Carolyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ratermann" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 10:22 AM Subject: Re: [ILCLINTON] Misspelled names > I'll Keep that in mind, thanks > > John > > > >From another list. Fun to read. > > > > ================= > > > > Not mispelled - just spelled differently. It is hard for those of us in > > the 20th century education to understand that before the social security > > system (1930's) and driver's license (1920's) people did not have an > > attachment to the spelling of a name. The name was spelled however the > > person writing down wanted to spell it. In fact it was a sign of an > > educated person to be able to spell a name several ways and you will find > > this in some deeds where there may be 5 or 6 different spellings in the > same > > document. In one class I went to a lecturer had a deed the spelled the > > man's name 11 different ways. > > > > It was said, reportedly by an early President, that "I would not trust a > > lawyer who could spell a name only one way." This was because if he was > not > > educated enough to spell a name several ways, he was probably not a very > > good lawyer. > > > > SO don't say "mispelled" as that implies a mistake, it was just "spelled > > differently". > > > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >