Hello Maggie Over the last few years I have done quite a lot of transcribing of parish registers & in every instance where I could check Josh has been short for Joseph. When Josiah was intended or Joshua it was usually written in full. Maybe Yorkshire scribes had different ideas though. best wishes Marjorie Ward Derbyshire, UK Hollingworth ONS www.hollingworths.net Sources for Disley; Lyme Handley; Taxal & Whaley www.disley.net Sources for NWDby incl. Chapel; Charlesworth; Chinley; Fernilee; Glossop; Hayfield; Hope Valley; Mellor & New Mills http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dusk