This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: cathyschmeer Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.lamar/3712.2.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: You're welcome. Hope you can untangle everything. I have found that even when I know my relatives' names, there are often names and initials recorded incorrectly. In census records, I have found the oddest records because the census taker records what they "hear" and often makes it just luck that I find the record. Often, you need to know the nickname of a person to add that to your search, because the family will use the nickname of a child (i.e. "little bit" being translated to "Lillie Beth" or vice versa) to list the children. The worst I have personally had was a death record in California that had all the info right, but recorded a combination of the father first name and a brother's middle name. Dates, name of mother, everything else was right. My dad actually remembered when they got the death certificate with the wrong name, but it was never corrected. LOL!! So you have to just hang in there on some of these! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.