There was a recent discussion on the Frederick Co. MD list regarding the accuracy of many of the published Historical & Biographical books. It was very wisely pointed out that the accuracy is occasionally based on "the point of view (and abilities) of the researcher" and "traditional factors" such as oral history of an area or family (not always verified by documentation). I personally am researching the Alexander family in Frederick Co. MD who one would assume were originally from the UK but beginning in the mid 1700's are found in the German Church Records. This leaves me wondering if they were originally German (immigrated from UK?) or perhaps on arrival in America they married into a German family and chose to follow the wife's religion. The church records show names appearing to be German but you have to realize that the person recording the information was influenced by their (and the churches) German background. So as the surnames in later records were changed to English spellings (Jung to Young, Mueller to Miller, etc) perhaps the names in earlier records were changed to the German spellings ((Henry to Henrich, George to Jorg, etc). That is just my confused view on the subject but I can recommend using any publication, oral history or online site ONLY as a guide to look for documentation. Good Luck in your research. tkfarrowwelker@wowway.com wrote: >I have always been told that my FARROW line was of English Descent. Then a >ancestor's bio said Scots-Irish which made sense since a "Fighting John >Farrow" arrived in the colonies was Scotch Irish. But now... > >In Scharf's History of Western Maryland he states; > >His father (Nathaniel) and mother (Mary Mccall) were natives of Maryland, and >were descended respectively from French and German ancestry...now I ask you, >which name is French and which is German? > >McCall sounds Irish to me...what am I missing here? > >Also, I see several other errors in the passages, date of death for Nathan is >1860 as per his stone and death notice yet Scharf states it was 1859, and it >states Mary is living with her son Henry Clay Farrow in Garrett City Ind when >she never lived there...she was in Martinsburg WVA. > >Any help? > >Terri Farrow >OHIO >-- > > >

Hi Susan: The Kleins of Germany and/or Switzerland changed their names to Little as they established the town of Littlestown, Adams Co., PA. Klein and Little both mean little or small. Phil Little, KS Susan McIntyre <sbmc2@chartermi.net> wrote: There was a recent discussion on the Frederick Co. MD list regarding the accuracy of many of the published Historical & Biographical books. It was very wisely pointed out that the accuracy is occasionally based on "the point of view (and abilities) of the researcher" and "traditional factors" such as oral history of an area or family (not always verified by documentation). I personally am researching the Alexander family in Frederick Co. MD who one would assume were originally from the UK but beginning in the mid 1700's are found in the German Church Records. This leaves me wondering if they were originally German (immigrated from UK?) or perhaps on arrival in America they married into a German family and chose to follow the wife's religion. The church records show names appearing to be German but you have to realize that the person recording the information was influenced by their (and the churches) German background. So as the surnames in later records were changed to English spellings (Jung to Young, Mueller to Miller, etc) perhaps the names in earlier records were changed to the German spellings ((Henry to Henrich, George to Jorg, etc). That is just my confused view on the subject but I can recommend using any publication, oral history or online site ONLY as a guide to look for documentation. Good Luck in your research. tkfarrowwelker@wowway.com wrote: >I have always been told that my FARROW line was of English Descent. Then a >ancestor's bio said Scots-Irish which made sense since a "Fighting John >Farrow" arrived in the colonies was Scotch Irish. But now... > >In Scharf's History of Western Maryland he states; > >His father (Nathaniel) and mother (Mary Mccall) were natives of Maryland, and >were descended respectively from French and German ancestry...now I ask you, >which name is French and which is German? > >McCall sounds Irish to me...what am I missing here? > >Also, I see several other errors in the passages, date of death for Nathan is >1860 as per his stone and death notice yet Scharf states it was 1859, and it >states Mary is living with her son Henry Clay Farrow in Garrett City Ind when >she never lived there...she was in Martinsburg WVA. > >Any help? > >Terri Farrow >OHIO >-- > > > ==== MDWASHIN Mailing List ==== Can't find it in Washington County...Try Frederick County at: http://midatlantic.rootsweb.com/MD/frederick/ ============================== New! OneWorldTree. Building Trees. Connecting Families. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13970/rd.ashx

Susan: There is another thing too. While we were strict Presbyterian Convenantors, by the 3rd generation I started to see mariiages in Lutheran and other churches. Marriage was usually in the brides church. It has always been a surprise to me that the Scots and the Germans mingled so well together from almost the begining, they were neighbors, friends, and fellow soldiers in the Revolution. Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan McIntyre" <sbmc2@chartermi.net> To: <MDWASHIN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 4:19 PM Subject: Re: [MDWASHIN] Losing my mind... > There was a recent discussion on the Frederick Co. MD list regarding the > accuracy of many of the published Historical & Biographical books. It was > very wisely pointed out that the accuracy is occasionally based on "the > point of view (and abilities) of the researcher" and "traditional factors" > such as oral history of an area or family (not always verified by > documentation). > I personally am researching the Alexander family in Frederick Co. MD who > one would assume were originally from the UK but beginning in the mid > 1700's are found in the German Church Records. This leaves me wondering > if they were originally German (immigrated from UK?) or perhaps on arrival > in America they married into a German family and chose to follow the > wife's religion. The church records show names appearing to be German but > you have to realize that the person recording the information was > influenced by their (and the churches) German background. So as the > surnames in later records were changed to English spellings (Jung to > Young, Mueller to Miller, etc) perhaps the names in earlier records were > changed to the German spellings ((Henry to Henrich, George to Jorg, etc). > That is just my confused view on the subject but I can recommend using any > publication, oral history or online site ONLY as a guide to look for > documentation. > Good Luck in your research. > > > > tkfarrowwelker@wowway.com wrote: > >>I have always been told that my FARROW line was of English Descent. Then >>a ancestor's bio said Scots-Irish which made sense since a "Fighting John >>Farrow" arrived in the colonies was Scotch Irish. But now... >> >>In Scharf's History of Western Maryland he states; >> >>His father (Nathaniel) and mother (Mary Mccall) were natives of Maryland, >>and were descended respectively from French and German ancestry...now I >>ask you, which name is French and which is German? >> >>McCall sounds Irish to me...what am I missing here? >> >>Also, I see several other errors in the passages, date of death for Nathan >>is 1860 as per his stone and death notice yet Scharf states it was 1859, >>and it states Mary is living with her son Henry Clay Farrow in Garrett >>City Ind when she never lived there...she was in Martinsburg WVA. >> >>Any help? >>Terri Farrow >>OHIO >>-- >> >> > > > ==== MDWASHIN Mailing List ==== > Can't find it in Washington County...Try Frederick County at: > http://midatlantic.rootsweb.com/MD/frederick/ > > ============================== > New! OneWorldTree. Building Trees. Connecting Families. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13970/rd.ashx > > >

Well Gordon - my addled mind is inclined to agree with your suggestion of "German Alexanders" in Maryland being created through the influence of a German mother & neighbors. The main trunk of my tree (of which the Alexanders are a branch) were first Scot/Irish Presbyterians in 18th century VA surrounded by Quakers. I then find them in the Methodist records. One of these Methodist males married an Alexander female and began an association with the Lutheran Church. As you hint - often the wife's religion is more dominant in the marriage. This would certainly explain away a lot of confusion I face with my Middletown Alexander family and I thank you for offering it. Susan gordon crooks wrote: > Susan: There is another thing too. While we were strict Presbyterian > Convenantors, by the 3rd generation I started to see mariiages in > Lutheran and other churches. Marriage was usually in the brides > church. It has always been a surprise to me that the Scots and the > Germans mingled so well together from almost the begining, they were > neighbors, friends, and fellow soldiers in the Revolution. > > Gordon >