My experience: Jno. = Jonathan Jas. = James -----Original Message----- From: Harold Miller <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Friday, February 19, 1999 8:17 PM Subject: why abbreviate? >>>Hi again. >>> >> >>At 12:48 PM 2/19/99 -0800, James H Granger wrote: >>>Sandy, >>>You had better listen to Barbara. She is correct. Think about it--why >>>would anyone "abbreviate" a four-letter word to three letters and a period?? >>>:=) >>>Jim Granger >>>- > > >About the abbreviation of John or Jonathan as Jno......this was discussed a >while back on another list. I did not understand either, till someone >mentioned that in early days, writing was done with a quill, paper and ink >were very costly. Also, try to write with a quill. So any way they could >cut corners, save on writing, save on ink and paper - they used it. Thus >many, many words were abbreviated. Also explains the way some of the >letters were written. Wm was William, etc. Now as to there being a >universal abbreviation.....it was more left up to the person doing the >writing. Therefore, we now wonder if Jno was John or something else. And >the answer, it depends. While maybe many used it for John, it could also be >Jonathon. Jas - you would think Jason, but I found where it was Jasper. So >don't think there is only one correct answer. > >And talking about paper being costly.....they would write in the margins. >Also, they would sometimes take a written letter, turn it around and write >in between the previous written lines. Saved paper. Also makes it really >interesting to now try to read some of these letters. > >Mary [email protected] > > >==== OLD-FREDERICK-CO-VA Mailing List ==== >Visit the Frederick County,VA USGenWeb Home Page! >http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafreder/frederic.htm >

I would like to know this for sure. The age 16 sticks in my mind for being added to the list of tithables. Wasn't that the age for military duty? I think I read it in something by Walter Kerns. Barbara At 05:37 PM 2/20/99 EST, [email protected] wrote: >I realize "infant" means underage but what was age of majority. At what age >was a man would be added to the list of tithables? Is it different than the >age of majority? Did one have to own property to be added by name to the list >of tithables? Did underage children have to reach majority before receiving >their inheritance. Does anyone know of a good book that explains the >legalities of the 18th century and whether or not they changed after the Rev >War. > >Thanks, > >Sara Patton > >>

"Jas" was "James". Unless there is other supporting evidence to the contrary, when it is encountered in a document, you can assume that is what is meant. One of the things that may help you determine what is meant would be to look at the creator of the document. If what you are looking at is a legal document created by the clerk of the county court, go with the standard interpretation of "Jno" for John and "Jas" for James. If what you are looking at is an entry in a family Bible or an old letter, particularly from the later part of the 19th century, and the writer would appear to have had a limited education, than you may want to be less strict in your interpretation and more open to the possibility that there as been a misunderstanding of the standard abbreviation or that the writer is assuming that the reader will know to whom he is referring by using an idiosycrantic abbreviation.. By the 1820's the quill was replaced by the steel pen. Renee L. Dauven

Did you ever get info on this request...I have a cousin that married a Richard Custer from Berkeley county...do not have any info on his line but if you did not get a reply for help let me know a few more names and I will attempt calling her and see if she is connected by marriage to your line. Tom -----Original Message----- From: Polly Custer <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Monday, January 11, 1999 10:27 AM Subject: Re:CUSTER >I am searching for information on the CUSTER surname in Berkeley County >WV.... >I have reached a stumbling block with REUBEN CUSTER who resided in B. Co. >in the early 1800's and left behind a large family whose descendants are >still residing in B. Co. > >Would appreciate hearing from anyone who may have CUSTER in their research. > >Thanks >PJC > > > >==== OLD-FREDERICK-CO-VA Mailing List ==== >Visit the Frederick County,VA USGenWeb Home Page! >http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafreder/frederic.htm >

>>Hi again. >> > >At 12:48 PM 2/19/99 -0800, James H Granger wrote: >>Sandy, >>You had better listen to Barbara. She is correct. Think about it--why >>would anyone "abbreviate" a four-letter word to three letters and a period?? >>:=) >>Jim Granger >>- About the abbreviation of John or Jonathan as Jno......this was discussed a while back on another list. I did not understand either, till someone mentioned that in early days, writing was done with a quill, paper and ink were very costly. Also, try to write with a quill. So any way they could cut corners, save on writing, save on ink and paper - they used it. Thus many, many words were abbreviated. Also explains the way some of the letters were written. Wm was William, etc. Now as to there being a universal abbreviation.....it was more left up to the person doing the writing. Therefore, we now wonder if Jno was John or something else. And the answer, it depends. While maybe many used it for John, it could also be Jonathon. Jas - you would think Jason, but I found where it was Jasper. So don't think there is only one correct answer. And talking about paper being costly.....they would write in the margins. Also, they would sometimes take a written letter, turn it around and write in between the previous written lines. Saved paper. Also makes it really interesting to now try to read some of these letters. Mary [email protected]

"Jno" is an abbreviation for "John". That is it's "official" or "theoretical" meaning. The abbreviation is said to have actually come into English usage based more on the Latin name "Johannes" rather than on the spelling of the English name "John". The clerks followed the convention because they knew that was what it meant and the question of using an abbreviation which was only one letter shorter than the word it represented, was not an issue with them as to change it would have caused confusion. So when you find it in court documents, give the clerk the benefit of the doubt that he knew what he was doing and consider it to be "John". However, always be aware that there is a possibility that a man named "Jonathan" may have been going by a nickname of "Jon", as we would probably spell it today, and that the clerk mistakenly spelled it "John" and abbreviated it in that manner. This situation can only be sorted out by collecting as much information as possible, any all references to both John and Jonathan, and then making a determination to see if they might be the same person. Renee L. Dauven

Try writing with a quill pen or chipping out letters on a marble headstone and you'll understand why they abbreviated everything they could! Sara

You know I actually think that the family I knew just liked intitials- maybe it was trendy-it wasn't for business reasons. They signed E.C for Elizabeth Catherine W.H. for William Henry and Jno H for John Henry. a few of the same family had added just a middle initial when they had no middle name. Brenda

Dear Old Freddie Friends, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. I have received many "e's" on the above subject. Thanks again, Sandy

My stepfather was named John and he would get mail with the abbreviation Jno. Just my two cents worth. Judy [email protected]

DEAR OLD FREDS. I have been keeping a log on John, Jonathan & Joseph. Here it is for those interested: Joseph John Jonathan 0 6 1 + Several Genealogists. Thanks everyone. That settles it for me. The winner is JOHN. (YEAAAAAA) (grin) :) You all are great. Sandy

Hi again. I didn't mean I was right about the Jonathan. Who knows what people will do? I did get my info from people who get paid for this but then again-everyone can make a mistake. I just think I would verify it somehow. BUT then I have seen the word days abbreviated to dys. You know, when they give the age of the person who died. 7 yrs, 2 m (forget how they did months without looking at some notes-maybe m) 20 dys. When I see these things I always wonder why in the world would they abbreviate the word days???? Barbara At 12:48 PM 2/19/99 -0800, James H Granger wrote: >Sandy, >You had better listen to Barbara. She is correct. Think about it--why >would anyone "abbreviate" a four-letter word to three letters and a period?? >:=) >Jim Granger >- > >>DEAR OLD FREDS. >> >>I have been keeping a log on John, Jonathan & Joseph. >>Here it is for those interested: Joseph John Jonathan >> 0 6 >1 >>+ Several Genealogists. >> >>Thanks everyone. That settles it for me. The winner is JOHN. (YEAAAAAA) >>(grin) :) >> >>You all are great. >>Sandy >>

I wouldn't bet the farm on it. I would check another source to be sure. Barbara At 11:17 AM 2/19/99 EST, [email protected] wrote: >DEAR OLD FREDS. > >I have been keeping a log on John, Jonathan & Joseph. >Here it is for those interested: Joseph John Jonathan > 0 6 1 >+ Several Genealogists. > >Thanks everyone. That settles it for me. The winner is JOHN. (YEAAAAAA) >(grin) :) > >You all are great. >Sandy > > >==== OLD-FREDERICK-CO-VA Mailing List ==== >Visit the Frederick County,VA USGenWeb Home Page! >http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafreder/frederic.htm > > >

Several professional genealogists I know say Jonathan. Baarbara At 12:14 AM 2/19/99 EST, [email protected] wrote: >Dear Helpers of "OLD FRED". > >I have sought the advice of several others and now I turn to the experts of >Old Frederick. > >What does Jno. stand for? Jonathan, Joseph, John? Or what? > >Thanks-- I know you'll come through for me. > >Sandy > >

Dear Helpers of "OLD FRED". I have sought the advice of several others and now I turn to the experts of Old Frederick. What does Jno. stand for? Jonathan, Joseph, John? Or what? Thanks-- I know you'll come through for me. Sandy

This is from a newspaper clipping - probably Winchester Star in the 1920's ARE YOU AMONG THE F.F.V'S IN FREDERICK? Official Copy of First Census Taken in 1748 is found in Court Records Mr. Fred... M..., the historian came across .......of what is the first census ever taken of the inhabitants of this section. The paper upon which the enumeration is written is in a good state of preservation and it has been presented to the Handley Library by him. The paper was found while cleaning up the room on the second floor of the Circuit Clerk's office. The paper is headed "A List of the Inhabitants in the Lower Part of the Manor of Wappaco..., taken the 18th day of August 1748." The list contains the names of the housekeepers, the time of residence here, those that rent, those that ...., those that...., and from where the inhabitants came. There is a total of 57 names among who is one widow woman. The list was probably prepared by direction of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, as several footnotes are directed to him by the census taker. The Manor of Wappacomo was in Frederick County on the south branch of the Potomac river in what is now Hampshire Co., W. Va. The names on the list are: Henry Van Meter Peter Casey Michael Higther James Williams Noah Hampton Stephen Osborn Garrett Decker Jno. Crouch Jacob Mills Jacob Forelle Wm. Miller Joseph Van Meter Jonathan Coburn Samuel Howard Peter Cas... John Turner Thos. Rennicks The Widow Reid Cobus Hornbiek John DuBrothern Cornelius Curtright Blandener Westfall Peter Thorn Geo. Adam Shupe Abel Westfall Anthony Bogard Mathias Yoakum George Yoakum Jacob Tebebaugh Michael Harness Coonrat Harness (son) Peter Snider, cooper Daniel Richardson Margett Thorn Jno. Cunningham Enock Cornwall John Wood Ben Pennington Wm. Tucker Neal Thompson Jno. Williams Wm. Zennes James Coburn Jacob Westfall Abraham Vanderpool John Colley Burkett Rezan Martin Shoob Jacob Shood Lenuard Heigther Wm. Knowles Alex. Scott John Welton Jno. Scott George See Frederick See Henry Carr The places from whence they came are denominated as Holland, Ireland, Dutch, Maryland, Northward, High Dutch....... Would some one in the Winchester area look this paper up in the Handley Library and fill in the blanks....., please. A copy of the newspaper clipping was found at the Hardy Co, WVa Library in Moorefield, WVa. It appears to me that this census is in the area in Hardy Co from the Trough south, up the South Fork and up to Petersburg Gap. George M. Williams

> ==== OLD-FREDERICK-CO-VA Mailing List ==== > Visit the Frederick County,VA USGenWeb Home Page! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafreder/frederic.htm George W. Cochran Sr. was born between 1770 and 1780 in Virginia. He served in the military in the war of 1812. He resided in 1830 in Jackson, Pickaway County, Ohio. He died before 1840. In the 1840 census his wife appears to be living with their son (younger George) in Fulton County, Illinois. George Cochran was described as a “native of the Old Dominion (Virginia) and of German descent.” Mary Sutherland was born on 20 Apr 1782 in Virginia. She appeared on the census in 1840 in Fulton County, Illinois. She lived with her son George. In the 1850 census of William Ward’s family, Mary was listed as 68 years old, Female, born in Virginia. She died on 15 Jun 1856 in Linn County, Iowa. She was buried in Lafayette Cemetery, Otter Creek Township, Linn County, Iowa. On the grave stone is her son-in-law’s name on the front (James), one side his wife, her daughter (Sarah) and on the other Mary. George W. Cochran Sr. and Mary Sutherland had the following children: I. Sarah Cochran was born on 2 Oct 1799 in Virginia. She appeared on the census in 1840 in Fulton County, Illinois. She Settled in 1841/42 in Otter Creek Township, Linn County, Iowa. She resided about 1841 in Otter Creek Township, Linn County, Iowa. She died on 8 Nov 1865. Sarah is buried in Lafayette Cemetery. On the stone is her husband’s name on the front (James), one side his wife (Sarah) and on the other her mother (Mary). She married James Hemphill, who was born on 10 Nov 1790 in Tyrone, Ireland. He appeared on the census in 1840 in Fulton County, Illinois. II. George Cochran Jr. was born on 7 Aug 1807 in Berkeley Co. (formed in 1772 from Frederick County), West Virginia. He was raised, “grew to manhood and married”, in Pickaway County, Southern Ohio. His sister was born in Pickaway Co. in 1812, so the family was probably living there at that time. He had a wallet inscribed in pen: “George Cochran, his book, 1828, Springfield” He appeared on the census in 1840 in Fulton County, Illinois. In the 1840 Fulton County census the family of George Cochran (Jr.?) lived next door to James Hemphill (husband of Sarah Cochran). Moving west in 1840, he purchased a 260 acre farm in Otter Creek Township in 1841. In 1850 he went overland to California, and after spending about one year on the Pacific slope returned to Iowa by way of the Isthumus of Panama, New Orleans, St. Louis, and Davenport. He died on 12 Apr 1887 in Otter Creek Township, Linn County, Iowa. He was buried in Lafayette Cemetery, Otter Creek Township, Linn County, Iowa. George Cochran was married to Catherine about 2 Aug 1824 in Berkeley Co. , West Virginia. George Cochran m Mrs. Catherine Reichard // Date of bond August 2, 1824 Date of marriage August __, 1824 Name of suretor: George Hoe Name of minister: Charles P Krauth These records are in Bond book 4b #268. Also a ciruit court record with the number mr47. George Cochran Jr. was married to Mary Glaze on 24 Dec 1828 in Pickaway County, Ohio. George Cochran Jr. and Mary Glaze had the following children: A. Mary Jane Cochran George Cochran Jr. was married to Hannah Ward on 21 Nov 1833 in Pickaway County, Ohio. George Cochran Jr. and Hannah Ward had the following children: A. John Cochran B. Mary Jane Cochran George Cochran Jr. was married to Susan Gunn between 1839 and 1849 in Iowa. George Cochran Jr. and Susan Gunn had the following children: A. Z. Taylor Cochran III. Nancy Cochran was born on 10 Feb 1812 in Pickaway County, Ohio. She Moved about 1838 into Illinois. She Moved about 1840 into Iowa. She appeared on the census on 17 Aug 1850 in Linn County, Iowa. She appeared on the census in 1856 in Otter Creek Township, Linn County, Iowa. She Moved in 1875 or 1877 into Clarke County, Washington. She died on 20 Sep 1896 in Hackinson, Clarke County, Washington. She was buried on 20 Sep 1896 in Brush Prairie, Washington. Nancy Cochran was married to William Franklin Ward on 10 Jan 1830 in Allen County, Ohio. IV. Nathan Cochran was married to Eliza Unknown. Eliza Unknown was born about 1826 in Indiana.

Looking for parents of these children 1. James WARD - b. 1769? 2. Cornelius WARD - b. 1771?, died 1806? Washington Co. OH 3. Jemimah WARD - b. 1773?, married 18 Aug 1803, Washington Co. OH - spouse George CARVEL/CARRELL/CARROLL 4. Daniel WARD - b. 1776? 5. Ann WARD - b. 1779? married 8 May 1809, Licking Co. OH - spouse Jacob HUMPHRIES/UMPHRY 6. Aaron WARD - b. 1781? - married Aug. 1809, Licking Co. OH - spouse Nancy EVANS 7. Neoma WARD - b. 1784? ? 8. Phebe WARD - b. 21 Feb. 1788 - Rockingham Co. VA, d. 22 Apr. 1877, LaPorte Co., IN - married 1 Jun 1809, Licking Co. OH - spouse Baruch/Barak DORR ?9. Jonas WARD - b. 10 Feb. 1790 - Rockingham Co. VA, d. 10 Dec. 1873, adison Co. IA - married 23 Sep 1814, Licking Co. OH - spouse Elizabeth DeWEESE

This roll call seems a good time to send this reminder. I am preparing the book for the Descendants of Dennis Springer and Ann Prickett. Dennis Springer died in August 1760 in what was then Frederick Co., Virginia. It is now the Back Creek area of Berkeley Co., West Virginia. We have now collected and corrected data on over 15,000 descendants (and spouses) of this colonial couple. Our goal is to bring each line down to a child born or married in the first decade of the 1900s. Exact publication date is as yet unknown - it depends somewhat on the amount of help the 100 members of the family research group can continue to provide. We have a rather basic homepage at http://www.geocites.com/Heartland/Prairie/8794 Kathleen Rizer

I am researching the CARPER surname. My g4grandfather was Adam CARPER (?-1840), b. VA, d. Nashville, Davidson Co., TN, m. Susan Knicely on 1 JAN 1799 in Rockbridge Co, VA. I am looking for parents, siblings, etc. Any information appreciated. Robert