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Subject: Re: [LDR] Rockawalkin
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 08:36:50 EST
Hello Everyone,
I am reading with interest the dilemma over the origin and spelling of this
particular watercourse....
However, from a genealogy location research perspective, my heart isn't
exactly in pieces here. I'd rather have a stream with different stories
regarding the origin of its name, which has a number of different, but
relatively similar spellings, than to have, as I do in Chesterfield Co., one
little creek that on its best days could barely provide entertainment for
more than ten minutes for two six year olds with their twig rafts and
certainly would never be a place for them to hone their rock-skipping skills
-- but is referred to in deeds by no less (and probably more) than eight
names, which recur with alarming frequency in some sort of revolving pattern
(ie, one name doesn't seem to ever actually replace any other).
From a more personal "origin of given name" perspective I am indeed
sympathetic. My middle name is Lee, which is my mother's middle name. I
have two cousins, once removed with an interest here as they also have Lee as
their middle names -- like myself, in honor of my mother (at least that part
of the story is not in dispute). About four years ago, thinking I'd missed
some LEE ancestor in my research, I asked my mother how she came about the
name. She gave me a story -- she was named after her mother's best
girlfriend and neighbor. I asked her again a few months later since I hadn't
written it down earlier and wanted to get it correct. She then said it was
after a local Baptist minister, and denied the first story, which has since
been resurrected. I have since determined from census records and the 1903
Dade Co. Missouri Atlas with plat maps, that yes indeed there was a Lee
family living very close by who had a daughter of the same age. I have also
identified the (totally unconnected) local Baptist minister -- a Brother Lee
who had no daughters or relatives in the area with such "girlfriend"
candidates, but one who obviously idolized the prophet Elijah, since he named
two sons Elijah (different middle names). It helps having a cousin who has a
goal of writing a history of the local Baptist churches. I also know from my
2g grandfather's Civil War pension records that he was acquainted with
Brother Lee. I have the minutes for the local church in question and can
imagine the two of them plotting a coup to oust the current head of the
Sunday School over the dinner table -- thus my mother's mother would also
know the fellow and conceivably give her daughter his name for her middle
name. (FYI, it is a proven fact that before television participating in
church politics was one of the top three leisure time activities for men in
the Ozarks.)
So...I'm going with both stories, especially as my mother's senior moments
are verging on hours, and she has the two versions and is sticking to 'em.
Merry Christmas!!
Janet Hunter
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