On Mon, 26 Mar 2001 14:38:22 -0600, lucie bailey wrote: > I'm relatively new researching US records. For the past 2 years I have been > translating Italian Records. I believe I'm overwhelmed with my resources at > hand: I have the Bailey Family bible, a copy of the death certificate(died > in Bay Head buried in Evergreen cemetery) and numerous family notes and > clippings. Mother's name in the Bible is different from the Death > Certificate and from a hand written list of names . > >From what I believe,the death certificate name more than likely could be > incorrect. Edmund A. Bailey was 72 yrs 6 mo and 28 days when he passed on. > Guess I'll go to the 1850 and 1860 Census. > Lucie > Lucie, It is not uncommon to find names...both first and last..differing. Alot of immigrants and 1st generation children of theirs changed their first names to "Americanize" them. My mother had 2 sisters who did this to hide the fact they were Italian....made sense to them I guess. Surnames were corrupted for a variety of reasons; to hide ethnicity ie; Mueller to Miller...one of the biggest corruptors was Ellis Island. If their personnel could not pronounce your name, you became whomever their papers said you were..It was usually a phonetic spelling of what the surname sounded like to them. Death certifs are basically unreliable..the info on the decedent was given YEARS after the facts by an informant who probably never knew his/her inlaws. Most death certifs in my family from 1900-1930 give the wrong names for the dead persons mother & father. (still in Germany) Finally, I spent several years searching for my g grandpa..Adam John Eckert..I learned that his REAL name was Johan Adam Eckert..Almost all his brothers were named Johan. When they got to the USA the middle name became their first name & John became the middle name. This was very common in German families. Probably in othere cultures too. Good luck....Good hunting. Bruce Eckert Woodstock, NY..where NONE of the concerts were held. Researching ECKERT & WIRTH > > ==== NJHUDSON Mailing List ==== > If you are unsubscribed from the NJHUDSON list unintentionally, simply > resubscribe. A full mailbox, computer error, or spam may cause you to be > unsubscribed. > _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/