Exactly, Wilmer. Without research we can be misled for generations. My Mornin ancestors were Murnane in Ireland. Also in America, the name was written as Marnin, Mourning and Morning. It's easy to hear Arnold when the German speaker says "Arnholt or Arnholdt." Many clerks would automatically write ARNOLD. An Arnold was accused of murdering my gggg-grandfather in what is now Lewis County, West Virginia in 1784 but later acquitted. Two renegade Indians were blamed. After all, he was scalped and butchered. No Arnold would do THAT. Thanks for your input. Gary Radcliffe glradcliffe@aol.com

Other good points hit here. In the 1700s, few could read and write. There were ethnicities that seldom interacted and probably could not understand each other very well. Not census entries of whether the named person could read, write, country of origin, etc. Add in the concept that ethnics stayed within their group and geography/proximity was a significant factor. Say MORNIN or MURNANE as quick as you can 5 times. Don't they sound the same? ----- Original Message ----- From: <GLRadcliffe@aol.com> To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 5:11 PM Subject: [WVHAMPSH-L] Arnold Revisited > Exactly, Wilmer. Without research we can be misled for generations. > > My Mornin ancestors were Murnane in Ireland. Also in America, the > name was written as Marnin, Mourning and Morning. > > It's easy to hear Arnold when the German speaker says "Arnholt or > Arnholdt." Many clerks would automatically write ARNOLD. > > An Arnold was accused of murdering my gggg-grandfather in what is > now Lewis County, West Virginia in 1784 but later acquitted. Two > renegade Indians were blamed. After all, he was scalped and butchered. > No Arnold would do THAT. Thanks for your input. > > Gary Radcliffe > glradcliffe@aol.com >