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Archiver > RHEA > 1997-09 > 0873841990


From: Cara Franklin <>
Subject: Rhea and variant spellings
Date: Tue, 09 Sep 1997 16:53:10 -0500


At , you wrote:
>At 11:52 AM 9/9/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>Some of you seem to have considerable information on these families. Is
>>there any known connection between the Rhea, Ray, Rea and Wray families or
>>anyother spellings ?
>>
>>Fred Preston

Hi Fred,

I am new on this list, but in my own family, I have Grizzel Wray, b abt
1698, she has a brother mentioned in her husband's will named Charles Ree.
Later other family members married persons out of this same line. They
spell their name Ray.

I think it has to do with the time period; the melting pot; there was not a
common alphabet, or language yet. People couldn't necessarily read or
write (ie: the William Allison Will I sent yesterday. The spelling is not
my error). Errors of court clerks who spelled it like it sounded, which
seemed to be acceptable at that time. Example: the soundex index.
Also in later years, census takers who may have been in a very big hurry or
didn't ask for the spelling of the name. All of this information simply
comes from my speculation, by viewing my own genealogy.

Another view is that my family were strong Presbyterians, Covenanters, I
think. They probably came to the Colonies to escape persecution of the
English. Maybe a little change in the spelling of the name would make them
more acceptable in the English Colonies??

Anyway, I hope you will accept REE as another variant of the name, and be
gentle with these pioneers and patriots who were struggling to survive in a
new land.

I would be interested in hearing other opinions and facts. I am beginning
to learn history through my own Genealogy. I don't know much, I'm open to
education.

You can see my 3 variant spellings under my GEDCOM Webpage at the ulster
url below.

Thanks,

Cara Franklin
Allison/Franklin Researcher

GATHERING OF THE ALLISON CLAN
http://www.allison-clan.com
FRANKLIN/ALLISON GENEALOGY
http://www.ulster.org.uk/genealogy/franklin/persons.html

Cara Franklin
Allison/Franklin Researcher

GATHERING OF THE ALLISON CLAN
http://www.allison-clan.com
FRANKLIN/ALLISON GENEALOGY
http://www.ulster.org.uk/genealogy/franklin/persons.htm

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