Fearless Females 2013: Day 3: Mahala

List the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.



Mahala EDWARDS 1815 and Mahala Edwards BALL 1854

When I first came across the name 'Mahala' in my family tree, I was not even sure the owner was a female.  I had to do quite a lot of research to find out more about it.  It turns out that it is of Native American origin (although I doubt my very-static ancestors knew that!).

Once again, in honour of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.  I know this is really US-centric - but that's not going to stop me honouring my own Fearless Females...

Names which repeat

Have you ever been confused by the same name cropping up again and again in your family tree? I don't mean the surnames - that's part of the reason behind it all! - but surnames coupled with given names.  It can be very useful - after all, it is easier to trace Otho POPHAM and his son, Otho POPHAM - or Archelaus EDWARDS and his son, Archelaus EDWARDS - but how about if the name is not so unusual?

Take, for instance, my great great great grandfather, John ELLIOTT.  Baptised in 1785 in South Pool, Devon.  On This Day, incidentally: he was baptised on 29 January 1785.  His father was also John ELLIOTT.   And his grandfather - John ELLIOTT.  And his great-grandfather - John ELLIOTT.  And his great great grandfather - John ELLIOTT - all in the same small village.  I received a GEDCOM a few years back, where the researchers who had contributed had obviously got completely confused by all these John ELLIOTTs - and the result was such a tangle that it took me months to try and work it out.


And, BTW, the first John 1785 had a son - yes, you've guessed it - called John.  I'm so glad I descend from his sister, Eliza...except she went and married a man called John...

On This Day: 24 January

Happy Anniversary! The splendidly-named Archelaus EDWARDS and Dinah PARTRIDGE were married on 24 January 1828 in East Portlemouth, Devon.