Yes, you are right...the spelling is just a curiosity...I just hope I can figure all of the spellings out soon...often I run across one that I have never thought about...It really helps to have the Message Board for others input. Have a great day. ----- Original Message ----- From: Charles Phelan Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 11:39 PM To: PHELAN-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [Phelan] Re: The Spelling of Phelan It makes no difference. It's the genes that count, the DNA - not the spelling! The spelling is just a curiosity. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nita Davidson" <NitaDavidson@MSN.com> To: <PHELAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 2:31 PM Subject: Re: [Phelan] Re: The Spelling of Phelan > Thank you Sir Charles...No sincerely, I do realize how and why all the different spellings...which by the way...don't leave out the Census takers! > > But yes, I do have to constantly remind myself not to get hooked on the spelling...but it sure makes it difficult to change boats in mid stream!....No punt intended. > > Sincerely, > > NitaDavidson@MSN.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Charles Phelan > Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2001 1:36 AM > To: PHELAN-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [Phelan] Re: The Spelling of Phelan > > What's the mystery about spelling variations? People were illiterate. Maybe > the priest presiding over the baptism could read but couldn't spell. The > misspellings then perpetuated themselves. This has been demonstrated in the > past century. In Canada, eastern European immigrants took the spelling the > immigration officer gave them on being admitted entry. It was all a question > of phonics. Different family members sometimes had different spellings, > because different immigration officers had to commit to writing an orally > pronounced name. That's clearly how multiple spellings of names happen. > Charles Phelan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jann" <townefabric@rural-net.com> > To: <PHELAN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 3:52 AM > Subject: Re: [Phelan] Re: The Spelling of Phelan > > > > Another "county" heard from. My G Grandfather was Martin Whalen but he > was > > also known as O'Phalen. oral history says that he and Grandma Ellen Powers > > Whalen offered a lady a ride in their buggy and she said "you are the > > O'Phalen's? and put her leg right in thier clock they were taking to have > > fixed. the glass is still broke on the front is still broke Jann Whalen > > Parks > > Please check Remus Free Summer Music Program at www.remusmusic.org > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Donna Lien" <dlien@theboss.net> > > To: <PHELAN-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 3:38 PM > > Subject: [Phelan] Re: The Spelling of Phelan > > > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > Just a word of advice for all you Phelan/Phalen/Whelan etc. researchers > > > out there -- do not discount the variant spellings of this last name. I > > > was quite surprised when I read what my g-grandfather, Philip PHALEN, > > > put down on his marriage certificate for his parents names -- Michael > > > and Catherine PHELAN. When Philip came to North America, he was listed > > > on the ship's list as Philip PHELAN but after that, he was always called > > > Philip PHALEN. In other words, we Phelans likely ARE all related!! > > > > > > Donna (Phalen) Lien > > > > > > > > > ==== PHELAN Mailing List ==== > > > Irish Proverb: A narrow neck keeps the bottle from being emptied in one > > swig. > > > > > > ============================== > > > Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! > > > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 > > > > > > > > > ==== PHELAN Mailing List ==== > > Irish toast: May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist > too tight on you. > > > > ============================== > > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > > > > > > > ==== PHELAN Mailing List ==== > Irish Proverb: Men are like bagpipes: no sound comes from them till they're full. > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > > > ==== PHELAN Mailing List ==== > Irish Proverb: An old broom knows the dirty corners best. > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > > ==== PHELAN Mailing List ==== Irish Proverb: Marriages are all happy - it's having breakfast together that causes all the trouble. ============================== Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2