Chasing the Past

  is for Name.

Today’s relationship to the word is a bit random.  A bit of a stretch, as it were.  My great grandmother’s name was Alice Harris Harris.  Her middle name, according to my grandmother, was Virgillia.  Odd name, huh?  I’ve seen different people put Virginia in their ancestory files.  I used to always chalk that up to them simply not knowing.  But should I have?

My grandmother was 6 months old when her mother died.  My grandmother had to rely on what family told her.  At times, I wonder if Virgillia is what she heard when they actually said Virginia.  A child’s ears can hear different things.  However, my great-great-grandfather lived until my grandmother was nearing 30.  Surely he could school her on his daughter’s correct name.

There’s no death certificates or anything to give any credence to either spelling.  That reminds me..I need to really go through my bible collection.  I have Alice’s husband’s bible, perhaps there’s notation in there on the correct name.  I may even have another from that side of the family.  Until then, I feel I have no choice but to go with personal knowledge as my source.