Records used for genealogy research are, unfortunately, riddled
with errors, especially the spelling of names. These incorrect
names create major challenges for family historians as they
search for earlier generations. Name errors occur for varied
reasons. Sometimes names have variations and individuals were
not concerned which version was used. Sometimes names were
written down incorrectly in the original record. Also,
handwriting on old records is often hard to read or in old-
fashioned script, leading to errors when the names are
transcribed for a census or name index, for example.
Genealogists learn to spot names in the records that might be
the ancestors they are seeking — even when outrageously
misspelled –and then work to prove or disprove their theory. My
search for my paternal third great-grandparents – parents of
Sherman A. Bradley — is an instructive example. To celebrate
Father’s Day 2009, here is a look at my quest for my Bradley
forefathers, focusing on the challenges of misspelled names!
When my