>But I've been wanting to share some thoughts and ideas that are >beginning to take shape, regarding John Shuman of Monongalia Co., WV. > Very interesting thoughts and ideas they are too :) >provided by the retired Lutheran minister is strikingly close to names we>already have. Bless everyone of those early ministers who kept records!! And those who translate them! >out of line. What is a much bigger problem is the name of the mother, which>is given as Catherine. Could the "circuit riding" priest who performed the >baptism simply have written the wrong name? Could be 12 yrs off. Or an Anna and a Hannah. Perhaps Anna died young? Mom's name could be Elizabeth Catherine and he used the Catherine? I've copied two churchbooks because I have so many listed there. Saves having to go back to the library when I find someone's name. Don't forget that most of the early Reformed and Lutherans were German and Swiss. Other than spellings and reversed names they've been pretty accurate. Use soundex on them LOL Some of the spelling in those old records... Or is it in the translations? You know what I mean <G> Now the census are another story <G> The birth records, one man was credited as the father of his brothers child. Wilma was originally written in as William. My father in law was listed as female. Aren't original records fun :)