How do you spell that again?

William Rose, pictured in Day 1’s blog, was part of the first generation born in the United States. The family came from Montreal, Canada, in 1830. His wife, Malenda Gonyea, was born in Vermont of French Canadian parents.  Her generation was also the first born in the States. Not sure where they met, but they  married in 1866. Malenda has been a challenge to find… she’s registered as not only Malenda, but also as Melenda, Matilda and Mahlenda. Oh, she’s there all right, but what spelling are you using? The printed family history, reproduced in print and online, was given to me from my grandmother Alvera, who received it from her cousin Martin. Malenda’s last name was spelled Guerney in the document. Since the language of the family was French, it was heard many different ways by many different officials and families. As an example, we have the two spellings above, as well as Gagnier, Gagnon, Gagne and, most recently, Gonyeau. Each of these names can be heard as the same and as very different.  Funny story… while working at our local paper, there was a writer who wrote a column called “Days Gone By.” His last name was Gonyeau. Some of his articles focused on my Rose family who settled in quite deeply in our area. This writer and I often laughed that we were probably related somehow.  We both knew it was a strong possibility, and then I found Malenda attached to the Gonyeau name. Then I knew… relatives! How funny!

What’s interesting, though, is that the name you are familiar with may be sending you totally on the wrong path. It’s hard enough when you know there are multiple Williams and Stephens and Marys and so on who marry other Williams and Stephens and Marys. But it’s important to know that what you see isn’t necessarily what you hear. Soundex is all well and good, but try to hear with your own ears the variety of spellings that could be recorded, whether it’s a birth record, marriage, death or census. And pay close attention to who is recorded as the parents or spouse. There could be yet another spelling out there.

There’s also the issue of what the name is and what the birth certificate says. James Arthur was always known as Uncle Art, Uncle Percy was actually Albert Percy, and Andrew Raymond became Raymond Andrew by the time he relocated to Michigan.