http://www.delmarvaroots.com/scstore/sitepages/column.html First Names or "Given Names" of the Colonial Period and Their Equivalents Amy = Naomi Naomi = Amy Ann = Nancy Nelly = Eleanor, Ellen, Ellender, Helen Anna = Joanna or Hannah Nathan = Nathaniel Christian = Christiana Peggy = Margaret Ebon = Ebenezer/Edward Oratio = Horatio Eleanor = Ellen, Ellender, Helen, Nelly Pergrine = Pere Elizabeth = Eliza, Lizzie Polly = Mary, Molly Hannah = Anna, Joanna Priscilla = Sissy Horatio = Oratio Sarah = Sally, Sary Joanna = Anna Sissy = Priscilla Margaret = Peggy Susan = Susanna Mary = Molly, Polly Ted = Edward, Ned Nancy = Ann William = Will Misreading the handwriting When using secondary sources keep in mind that the original transcriber may have misread the hand writing. Colonial handwriting is sometimes easy to misread. The following are some letters which (in colonial handwriting) are easily misread for each other: "g" and "y" "d-o" and "e-w" "m", "n" and "u" "S" and "L" "T" and "F" Here are three of the most commonly misread English names: David - Daniel Mary - Margaret (when abbreviated Marg.) Samuel - Lemuel Confusion with Abbreviations of Names Christ. is the abbreviation sometimes used for Christian and other times for Christopher. Jac. is used for Jacob - sometimes misread as Jas. and hence James Jo. is usually meant for John, not Joseph Jos. is easily misread for Jas. and hence a misinterpretation of Joseph and James. Jno. is sometimes shown as Jno which can be misread as Tho. leading to an erroneous Thomas for John which the average reader would not expect. Nathan is sometimes and abbreviation for Nathaniel and can also be a full-name. Rd. is used for Richard and is misread variously. Xtopher is used for Christopher. ttg-inc@comcast.net http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ttg13/

Becky-- I need to send in my dues, but have again misplaced your mail address....please post one more time and I will be sure and put in my address book...thanks!! Prince Terry of the West -----