Lana, I think that this happens much more than is realized. With the prevalence of naming patterns among many ethnic groups and the large size of families in earlier times, it would be quite common for several first cousins to bear the same name. Unfortunately, now with the easy exchange of information the mistakes are copied and become "truth." Kathryn Doyle Piedmont, CA Original message: Date: 5 Aug 2006 01:38:16 -0600 From: [email protected] Subject: Sarah Ann Houck, a grossly overused name! This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Houck, Corbin, Clark, Cassady, Hatt, Devor, Peterson, Baker Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ZdB.2ACI/3579 Message Board Post: Hi, I am posting this in case anyone has grabbed my gedcom off of rootsweb, because I found a major error in the last day. I will try to make this as simple as I can. (But it won't be easy!) William Houck and Eleanor Ellen Hall, married 1792, had your typical dozen children. I am descended from their son Elijah, who married Delia Corbin. Among their children was a Sarah Ann, who "I" blissfully married off to John Heeter, based upon his biography. I just got letters written by one of Sarah Ann's brothers to his nieces and nephews that lists his sister Sarah Ann as beng married twice, once to a Mierly and once to a Benson. Obviously, I think a brother is a pretty good source, so I started digging. Till I finished I found that the Sarah Ann Houck married to John Heeter was the daughter of Adams Houck, Elijah's brother. Yes, these two Sarah Ann Houcks were 1st cousins, born within about 4 years of each other, in the same area. Elijah's daughter Sarah Ann was married to John A. Benson. Well, if that wasn't enough to confuse me, this John A. Benson's brother was ALSO married to ANOTHER Sarah A. Houck (listed as the daughter of Solomon Houck), a slightly more distant cousin! Do you think Thanksgivings at their home were confusing???? Anyway, if anyone has pulled gedcom information from me, you will want to correct this. I have it our there correctly now. Also, if you are a Houck researcher, I just got a booklet written about the Civil War and the involvement of he and his two brothers written by Elijah Corbin Houck that I am willing to share. Sooner or later it will get to my website. Lana