A Name Change Chronology

Several prior post have discussed the fact that the same name often gets spelled  in a variety of ways.  For the genealogist,  it is necessary to identify how these spellings can occur, and explore all alternative spellings when facing one of those brick walls.  This post shows that various spellings can also happen over time, presenting another dimension to all this brick wall climbing.  For my own tree climbing experience it was the surname "Taliaferro".

Beginning in 1651, the name was first spelled "Troliver".  It took some 60 years before the surname came to be spelled "Taliaferro".  The following table presents  how the name was spelled in the patent records of Virginia 1651 - 1711. [Taken from Cavaliers and Pioneers - Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, by Nugent, Vol. I - III]

1651 - Troliver - CP(I) p. 224
1655 - Troliver - CP (I) p. 307
1661 - Tolliver - CP (I) p. 417
1666 - Taliafro - CP (I) p. 548
1666 - Taifer - CP (I) p. 548
1666 - Tallifro - CP (I) p. 548
1667 - Talifro - CP (II) p. 21
1667 - Talliferoe - CP (II) p. 32
1667 - Talliferoe - CP (II) p. 39
1669 - Toliferoe - CP (II) p. 70
1670 - Talliferoe - CP (II) p. 90
1671 - Talliafero - CP(II) p. 93
1671 - Taliaferro - CP (II) p. 149
1673 - Taliafer - CP (II) p. 123
1673 - Talliaferro - CP (II) p. 138
1685 - Taliaferoe - CP (II) p. 294
1691 - Taliaferoe - CP (II) p. 360
1693 - Taliaferro - CP (II) p. 380
1694 - Taliafero - CP (II) p. 397
1695 - Taliaferro - CP (II) p. 401
1705 - Taliaferro - CP (III) p. 93

Some 60 years in the records...what a deal.
1711 - Taliaferro - CP (III)  p. 124

Two New Blogs

Brick walls come in all shapes and sizes as you climb out that family tree.  Those with a common surname like JONES will have all sorts.  Likewise, those who have a Welsh surname origin [like Jones] face another variety of brick walls once you reach a certain point in that tree climbing experience.  Two new blogs are being started with the purpose to provide a location to discuss all these themes and subject that might be of help.  One is titled: "Jones Surname Central".  The second is titled: "Welsh Surname Central".   Now I know that all tree climbers are not JONES or WELSH, but this combination offers many brick walls all their own.  The blog sites are :

       Jones Surname Central  at  tjgjscs.blogspot.com

       Welsh Surname Central  at tjgwsc.blogspot.com

If you share a few brick walls that need some thoughts, this may be the place to add your subject/topic at the comment section of each post [yet to come].  A place to share, discovery, and discuss these brick walls.

The Three R's : Welsh Descent

By now, my suspicion is that most folks who are reading and following this blog share a common interest in the destruction of brick walls.  Having a surname JONES you can imagine the number and frequency of such adventures.  My own tree climbing has provided me many such opportunities which this blog has tried to share.   Over the years, a number of readings, references, and resources have accumulated which have been especially helpful...thus "The Three R's".  I thought it might be useful to present these items to those who share this common Welsh ancestry.  From the Bluegrass of central Kentucky to the Vale of the Dee [ North Wales], my own branches have been connected.  Welsh descent...English filter...Virginia colonist...frontier settler...to a Bluegrass landing is roughly the chronology.  It is in this order that my collection of "Three R's" will be presented in the next series of posts.

Welsh Descent:

The following text has served me well over the many years of my JONES surname tree climbing.  It presents information organized by the Welsh counties giving a history of each and the surnames connected.  It is in two volumes.

The first printing was in London, 1872.  It was revised and enlarged in 1875, and reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, in 1991. [Where I obtained my copy.]

"Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales" by Thomas Nicholas.

It has proved to be a reading....a reference...and...a resource since 1991.  A certain find to help with those brick walls of Welsh descent.

Sphere of Influence

Dynamic factors come into play during the historical periods that our ancestors lived.  These factors will influence the surroundings, and often direct the decisions that our family makes among the various branches of the family tree.  Many branches come to one of those "brick walls" when the twist and curves are a result of these factors.  Trying to get a grasp of these influences will help direct the tree climbing decisions.  One aspect I call "Sphere of Influence".  The following figures help demonstrate  how this concept may be approached.

The basic principle is that each family member comes under the influence of a dominate factor which plays an important role in their life.  A simple drawing [using graph paper] is shown.

 In the center is a square drawn to represent the "dynamic factor" that is central to the time period.  It may be an individual, or any issue that seems to play an important role for the family member.  There are four additional squares draw which are connected to this central issue.

Extending this central issue...

...various additional individuals [factors] extend outward in expanding directions.  Each being more distant from the center, yet still influence by the connection.  A cluster affect it might be called, or a "sphere of influence" surrounding the center.

Continuing the example...

... let's say the central dynamic is political.  For my family history much deals with the complex roll of the monarchy verses individual rights.  "Royal Power" is the center, and an "inter circle" is formed by those connected.  Family records will often list the names of various folks connected to this "sphere of influence", but making these connections become one brick wall after another.  An "outer circle" is formed surrounding these folks, and placing their role in this complex web, will often help connect family members.  Influence and authority extending from a central issue.  Making clusters and branches will focus many decisions among the family tree branches.

Concepts, Principles, Methods

Brick walls offer an opportunity to try all kinds of new things.  Over the years climbing trees [reaching 55 years!]  I have found various concepts and principles that have provided help in brick wall destruction.   This blog is an attempt to put these ideas into some form that may help other genealogist when they face their own brick walls.  Thus, it is called "The Brick Wall Protocol".

I would bet that there are lots of folks who have experience these brick walls, and have found ways to get around them.  It may be a method, or tool that has helped.  It may be a concept or principle.  This post is to ask those who have used [or discovered] these things to place a comment to this post. 

It may also be that there are those who are experiencing their own brick wall.  You might place a brief comment asking help from those who have been there before.

Please add your concepts, principles, or methods that have helped you get around those brick walls.

Tracing Paper

An inexpensive way to add a little fun to this brick wall demolition is with tracing paper.  The following shows the type available.

Transparent paper for sketches and overlays it states.  For me, tracing maps, and land surveys, and the like, would help get around some of those "geographic" brick walls.  The following are some examples.

The Ohio River Valley played an important role in the story of my family.  Early on [1650s], my family were on tidewaters of Virginia.  In the early period of American history [starting 1776] my family migrated to this valley.  The figure above used tracing paper to roughly outline this "Ohio Valley" and the major geographic obstacles that came into play.  "Go west young man"...but how?

Understanding migration patterns helped break down a couple of my brick walls.  The 1850 census records in Kentucky [where my family has lived since 1776] would give a state of birth such as PA, VA, NC, etc.   How they got here was often a question that had to be answered before that brick wall could be faced.   Lots of color, lots of tracing, came into play.  Tracing paper was the foundation of these adventures.

Add Your Thoughts

Brick walls are everywhere.  No matter who you are, where you are, and how long you have been doing this thing called genealogy, you will run into them along the way.  Sharing experiences and what has helped get around, or through, or over, or under these things we call brick walls, is a way to pass on to other genealogist what we have learned.  I thought it might be useful for others who have learned methods or techniques, or tools, to share their thoughts.

The comment section of the blogs allows one to put their thoughts into words.  For those reading this post, please comment any thoughts you might have to share along this tree climbing experience that has help you face those brick walls.  Others can then respond to your thoughts or suggestions which can then expand the ideas expressed.  Let's get going...I know there are lots of folks out there with a few lumps on their genealogical heads from running into those brick walls.  Add your thoughts. 

Lookup(s) : Tree Climbing Helps

Over the years, a large number of folks have written/e-mailed/called/ and personally appeared seeking help with their tree climbing.  Since the blogs have reached over 80,000 page views, it has become increasing difficult to keep tract of all the incoming request.  A resent blog on my genealogical research collection [ tjgresearchnotebooks.blogspot.com ] has generated some interest.  On this blog site you can "search" the notebooks for particular subjects/topics which may provide some help in brick wall destruction.

The figure above shows a sample page from this blog and identifies the "Search This Blog" tag where you can enter a subject/topic.  A research notebook may contain an item of interest, and the subject/topic can be examined. [ A Lookup !]

The notebooks are physically located in The Joseph Wheeler Jones Memorial Library, Danville, KY.  As pictured above, they are regular sized notebooks, numbered and organized by topics. [Now over 250 of them!]   A "lookup" involves my direct selection and review of content.  It has become necessary to try and establish some order to this process.

A request will need to be done by direct mail.  Please send your question with a self addressed, stamped envelope to The Jones Genealogist, 243 N. Third St., Danville, KY 40422.  A $10 lookup fee needs to be included.  Only one question per envelope.   This fee will cover cost of copies, paper, ink, and indicate a sincere interest in seeking the information.

Brick wall destruction...a lookup may help.

A Running Record

Recognizing and organizing certain themes, topics, and subjects can be the secret weapon needed to break down many of those brick walls.  What brings people together as a group at one point in time, or in one place in time, or in one why in time, may help the genealogist to put an end to one of those pesky red brick things standing in the way.

Themes can be something laid down by cultures or social groups which bond them to one another.  Perhaps religion, political party, or social group may remove them from one area and go to another.
For my own family, the Baptist movement in early colonial Virginia helped me follow my family from one area in Virginia, to the wilderness of Kentucky.  They became known as the "Traveling Church" becoming a topic of interest in early Kentucky history.

Perhaps it might be a topic like the "Theory of Divine Right" of kings.  Who did the family fight for or against.  This topic became an important subject during the English Civil War period (1638-1649).  Understanding and organizing this concept helped me recognize, and group together my own JONES family during this period of history.

Likewise, a subject can be anything that might effect thought or consciousness bringing into to action an individual or group of individuals.  What subjects make the group united in action.  Placing Mary, Queen of Scots, on the English throne was one such subject that united a small group of men, including my own family.

Keeping a running record of these themes, topics, and subjects as one goes about their own tree climbing may help solve many questions which seem to get in the way.  For me this was done in a series of notebooks which became the record of discoveries on these items.  Piece by piece, these became the thread to weave a rope over many of those brick walls.

For those interest, I have started a blog on my collection of notebooks.  These list the themes, topics, or subjects that I have collected during the past 52 years of genealogy.  The list can be found at http://tjgresearchnotebooks.blogspot.com.  You can search for topics/subjects using the search space given.

BWP(14): Where To Go From Here

By now things should be falling apart. Not you, that is, I mean the brick wall. If not, be sure that you have determined that Step 2 has been completed.


It might be helpful to provide a way that brick wall destruction can be shared. I suggest that those who still have trouble, place the brick wall in a comment to this post, and I will label a post that others can join.

If you have succeeded in demolishing your brick wall, please leave a comment telling the success in a post. This may help others.

As Cicero said more than 2,000 years ago:

"For what is the worth of a human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history."

BWP(10): Time Analysis

A detailed chronology is often the key to busting through your brick wall. This section of the protocol starts you on your way. Please remember that it is best to start at the beginning of the protocol and complete Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Get those pencils going!












The type of graph paper will vary depending on the number of small squares per inch. You will need to adjust your yearly entry depending on the type of graph paper.






















At this point, the most important aspect is the documentation that you have obtained doing your own tree climbing. Start with the most secure fact! This becomes your starting point in the notebook.












You will need to make your own scale of months, days, years. Use the back of each page for the additional information you will be obtaining.

BWP(9): Methods

The following section introduces the methods to brick wall destruction. Please follow the instructions closely, and complete each section in order.

Time and Space analysis, what a deal!

I have included a picture of the materials contained in my first publication. You will need to get these simple supplies at any "dollar general". The markers are pink, blue, and yellow.

Remember that the graph paper will be different from the ones now available, but you will following the same methods.

Let's get going!

BWP(5): CONCEPTS

Basic concepts of genealogical research are presented in this segment of The Brick Wall Protocol. Please note that you should have completed Steps 1, 2, and 3 before you begin this section of the protocol.

BWP(3): Step 2

Sometimes the hardest thing in genealogy is to clearly establish were your heading. Or at least, where you would like to be heading. Step 1 ask you to define the question you wish to answer...your brick wall. Now comes "Step 2".

Step 2 is to document and organize every fact that you have recorded regarding the person you wish to understand. You will often find that you have a tremendous amount of information, or on the other hand, a very small amount of information.

Step 2 is to help you clarify the documentation that you have collected. The pages outline a series of items important in your tree climbing. This will also help give you a list of "rocks" which can be turned over, or the names of some "closet doors" which could be opened.

Step 2 may take some time, but you have been butting your head against your brick wall for some time now, and a little help in resting your forehead is often helpful!



You may need to add additional items to your list. Let's get going.

Remember, Step 1 must be completed before Step 2.

Click on the pages to enlarge them.

BWP(2): Begin Here - Step 1

This is the second post for The Brick Wall Protocol. "Begin Here" is the place to start. It introduces you to "Step 1" in the process of brick wall destruction!












Step 1 is the foundation. Be sure you have a clear statement and understanding of what your brick wall actually is! Follow the steps carefully. Let's begin.

Recognize that you can click on the pages to enlarge them.

BWP(1) The Brick Wall Protocol

Frequently, "brick walls" present themselves to the genealogist. How to go around or demolish them becomes quite a task. Having faced many such "brick walls" in my 50 some years of doing genealogy on the surname JONES, I have come to accept them as part of tree climbing.

The following blog will present what I have used to help get over and around these proverbial "brick walls". It is intended to be a help to those who wish to continue their genealogical experience in spite of facing a wall. It is called The Brick Wall Protocol. It will be presented as I have developed it in a "work book" approach. The pages of the work book will be presented as if you are using the actual protocol intended.

The pages and text will be published as designed. Each post will have a number identified as "BWP(#)" so that a reader can following in order. This is BWP(1), meaning "Brick Wall Protocol, reading #1. Post will follow in sequence so that the reader will be able to utilize the information as intended.

The pages will be presented in order and hopefully make sense to the frustrated genealogist. They should be used in sequence to be most helpful.


Please make any comments or suggestions using the comment space at the end of the post.



The first three figures show the title page, purpose, and copyright. First published in 1989!


The next post will describe "Step 1".








I trust this protocol will be helpful to genealogist for generations to come.