Self Seekers Newsletter, v.13, no.1

SELF SEEKERS:

THE SELF FAMILY ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY ONLINE NEWSLETTER SUPPLEMENT

Co-Hosts
Tim W. Seawolf Self
Barbara Ann Peck
[email protected]
Volume 13, no. 1 January, 2010
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WELCOME

Welcome to volume 13, no. 1 of the quarterly online newsletter supplement to "Self Portraits: The Self Family NetLetter," the Website dedicated to Self family research at http://www.selfroots.com

You are receiving this newsletter because you were kind enough to join "Self Seekers: The Self Family Association." We appreciate all of your contributions, large and small, and we hope you will continue to support our page, our surname list, and this newsletter.

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A NEW DECADE

Or maybe not. Depending on how you look at it, 2010 is either the beginning of a new decade or the end of an old one. Personally, we'd like to see this year as a new beginning. The old decade didn't start out too well. Remember when Y2K was the biggest problem we faced? And we weren't even sure if our computers would stop dead in 2000 or 2001. That whole idea was forgotten when the world seemed to come to an end in 2001 on the morning of September 11. Already there was a deep red stain on the new decade, the new century, and the new millennium. Life has never been the same since then. The War on Terror drags on interminably; the entire world economy is in or approaching a true depression; and most of us wish for the days preceding 9/11 and the foreknowledge to put a stop to it. Unfortunately, we can't go back. But we can go forward, just as our ancestors did following their wars, panics, and depressions. Since 2001, many Self cousins have given birth to new little Selfs who may someday make this world a better and happier place to live. Let's all hope and pray for a brighter decade--to an end to war and poverty--and to a new unity of global understanding when 2020 begins!
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SELF SEEKERS MEMBERSHIP FEES

Please send us your 2010 contributions if you haven't already done so...

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SELFS AND THEIR USE OF MIDDLE NAMES
by Barbara Peck
edited by Tim Seawolf-Self

It happened to me again the other night. Working with the Self surname for all these years still hasn't taught me the valuable lesson I should know by now: our ancestors often used their middle names exclusively. This can present an enormous challenge in genealogical research. It's happened so often that I'm now really curious as to WHY this custom prevailed, even up to the present day. The Web has an abundance of articles about middle names, but very little seems to apply to the Selfs.

HISTORY OF MIDDLE NAMES

If you've discovered that many of your ancestors had just two names--given name and surname--until sometime in the 19th century, you're correct. In the very earliest times, most people had just one name. Because they lived in small rural villages, everyone knew everyone else, and if a distinction had to be made, a description such as "the carpenter," "the elder," or "the bald" accompanied their name. In fact, these associations with occupations or personal characteristics may have defined later surnames in medieval times. An exception to this practice was found in the name usage of other non-Anglo-Saxon cultures. For instance, the ancient Romans often used three names (Gaius Julius Caesar, Marcus Tullius Cicero) for formal purposes and chose just one of those names for familiar, everyday use. After 1600, it became necessary to use at least two names and sometimes three, especially if you belonged to the upper class. The necessity was the need to distinguish one person from a group of several. We all know that many people were named John or Mary. For peasants, it was usually considered enough to speak of "John Doe" so as not to confuse him with "John Smith" or "John Self." But in the upper classes, the middle name apparently gave more importance to one's name and insured that "John London Doe" would not be confused with "John Salisbury Doe." It sounded impressive, too.

Now, here comes the tricky part: Most of your Self ancestors in the 17th and 18th century were known by first and last name, no middle name given. This is how you commonly find them in legal documents such as marriages, wills, and court records. And yet I've found some of them who supposedly DID have a middle name--for instance, I've seen our Job Self written as Job William Self (not a proven fact); and of course there are definitely recorded three-name individuals such as William Isaac Self, John Cole Self, James Blincoe Self, Samuel Alison Self, and the list goes on. Even more important for our topic, there were Selfs who really did use their middle name to the exclusion of their given name. An example that comes to mind is Muscoe Self whose name actually was JOHN Muscoe Self. Perhaps one of the "Loose End" Johns of his day are referring to him.

Middle names became commonplace in the 19th century. By the start of the Civil War, almost all children born in the United States had a middle name. Even then, in a large family like the Selfs, there have been quite a few duplicates when two "given" names are used (John William, George Thomas). There were many "Juniors" and children named for a favorite relative who was still living when the child was born. And don't forget all those named for historical or regionally important figures. The records are full of George Washingtons, Thomas Jeffersons, Francis Marions, and similar names. Insert a bit of humor: once we wrote to a Self cousin from the United Kingdom. He asked about the photo on the initial page of the first "Family Album." We told him that it was a picture of Tim's great grandfather, George Washington Self, and family. The cousin was really indignant and replied: "Just like an American! Everyone thinks they're related to George Washington!" He obviously didn't see the surname "Self." Had he known American history well enough to realize that President George Washington left no descendants, he might have gone back to his own claims of being the umpteenth great grandson of Charlemagne!

In today's world, middle names are "a must" and are often taken for granted. It took me a long time to realize that the middle name of "NMI" did not mean "enemy" but rather "no middle initial." A friend who had a baby couldn't decide on a middle name--and the hospital refused to release the child until she came up with something. Recently, even the Social Security Death Index has begun to add middle names or initials to their entries. I think they finally figured out that their database is a very popular tool for the genealogist.

ALTERNATE USE OF MIDDLE NAMES

All of the above is interesting, but it still doesn't answer the question of why so many Selfs use(d) their middle names as an alternative to their given names. We found several references to this practice in various cultures, starting from early times. In Italy and Spain, it was once tradition that every child in the family had the same name, differing only between males and females (and sometimes not even then). The chosen name was almost always the name of a Catholic saint. Each child had a unique middle name and was called by this middle name by family and friends. This practice was gradually abandoned in Europe and would always have seemed out of place in the United States. I once heard of a woman who had seven daughters, all named Mary--Mary Ann, Mary Jane, Mary Ellen, etc. Each girl was normally referred to by her middle name; but when their mother wanted to see them all at once, she just had to yell out "MARY," and they would all come running. Cute, and apparently true.

You might notice other kinds of middle names as well. The Chinese typically use three names, putting their last name first. The Russians use patronymics, an easy system for both identification and alleviating decisions about middle names. For instance, if your name is Serge and your father was named Vladimir, your name would be Serge Vladimirovich. Adding -ovich tells the world who you are and who your father was. For females, the suffix -ovna serves the same purpose. In other cultures, and increasingly in America and England, people hyphenate the surnames of their parents, or a woman will combine her maiden name with the surname of her husband. These names do not contain middle names as we know them, but the individual who has one may choose not to use a middle initial and simply be known as John Doe-Self.

Some 18th century Selfs, such as John Muscoe Self mentioned above, probably went by their middle name because it was truly distinctive and allowed them to stand out. Other people may just simply dislike their given name or decide they like their middle name much more. Still others choose their middle name as an alternative to a name that has also been given to a close cousin or an uncle or aunt--and some would rather be known by a middle name than be called "Junior" if they've been named after their father.

WHY SELFS?

So we come to the final question: Are the Selfs unique in using their middle names instead of their given names? We DO see others in our allied name forays who have embraced this custom. For instance, Tim's great grandmother, Margaret Ann Miller, went by the name "Ann." There were no obvious Margarets in her family, although there may have been aunts or other relatives with that name on her mother's (unknown) side. And what about the tales we hear of Southern (and even Northern) families where a child is called by both names? Most of my older acquaintances called me "Barbara Ann" when I was growing up. So many mysteries, perhaps unimportant to any of their contemporaries, but vitally important to us as genealogists. I really have no answer to these questions. I do wish that the Census takers, the Social Security Administration, courthouse clerks, and other officials would verify that a person's name is full and correct. I wish that parents would give children names that they think they'd like and use and save the obligatory names of relatives, saints, and celebrities for that middle position. Tim's grandson always used his middle name--at least until he reached age 21--and no one can remember whose idea this was...

We'd like to hear your accounts of early or contemporary family members who go by their middle names. Please take a minute to write to us and help us figure out why this happens.

(NEXT: "The Ancestry of Robert Self, Husband of Martha Walker")
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PLEASE CONTRIBUTE BIOGRAPHIES AND PHOTOS

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DEAD ENDS
part 4
"D"
by Barbara Peck and Tim Seawolf-Self

When we began "SelfSite at RootsWeb," our objective was to present as much unrelated Self data as possible in the hopes that these individuals and families would be recognized by someone out there. Because the Selfs married into many other surnames, it's just possible that a person surfing the Web could come across a Self connection that was previously unknown to them. We divided the entries into two groups: "Loose Ends" and "Dead Ends." The Loose Ends are Selfs for whom we have no ready ancestry. The Dead Ends are marriages of Self descendants for whom we are seeking descendants. We've decided to reprint the "Dead Ends" bit by bit in this netletter to make it easier for you to go through them and to give visitors to our sites one more point of access. Also there have been additions, deletions, and corrections. Please check your records to see if any of these couples are in your database. As always, information you may provide to us is for posterity. Living people will not be put on the Web.

DAHL, Oscar and SELF, Margaret E. married 9 Nov 1898 in McCulloch County, TX
DALTON, David and SELF, Nancy married 4 Jan 1849 in Ripley County, MO
DALTON, William Grinstead and SELF, Mary Jane married 9 Oct 1849 in Ralls County, MO
DANIEL, Alden Anderson and CORWIN, Mary Marie married 29 Mar 1912 in McMinn County, TN
DANIEL, Amos M. and SMITH, Celia A. married about 1861, probably in GA
DANIEL, Aura Edward and UNKNOWN, Pearl married about 1911, probably in GA
DANIEL, Benjamin and UNKNOWN, Matilda married about 1847 in GA
DANIEL, Francis Hannah and McKING, Jeannie married 13 Nov 1876, probably in Dade County, GA
DANIEL, Henry Lafayette and PLOTT, Rebecca Jane married 2 Sep 1894, probably in Towns County, GA
DANIEL, James and QUALLS, Adeline married about 1865, probably in GA
DANIEL, James Arthur and FREE, Salinda Lucinda married 7 Feb 1894, probably in Habersham County, GA
DANIEL, Jefferson D. and KUNSEY, M. A. married 14 Nov 1880 in Cherokee County, GA
DANIEL, Jeptha M. and SELF, Tabitha married 4 Feb 1812 in Putnam County, GA
DANIEL, Jesse A. and UNKNOWN, Lora married before 1900, probably in GA
DANIEL, John and BROWN, Rebecca Jane married 2 Apr 1848 in Union County, GA
DANIEL, John Wesley and COLDWELL, Dollie married about 1904, probably in Towns County, GA
DANIEL, Josiah L. and PIERCE, Mary Ann married 8 Aug 1880 in Union County, GA
DANIEL, Julias L. and HARBIN, Nancy Medora married 2 Sep 1877 in Cherokee County, GA
DANIEL, Logan and HIGHSMITH, Myrtie married about 1913, probably in GA
DANIEL, Millicon Chester and UNKNOWN, Mary Polly married 4 Aug 1867 in Dade County, GA
DANIEL, Nathaniel and PILYAW, Lizzie married about 1899, probably in GA
DANIEL, Oscar Daniel and BROWN, Lula married about 1895, probably in Towns County, GA
DANIEL, Posey Palestine and FREE, Minerva married about 1875, probably in GA
DANIEL, Thomas VanBuren and WILSON, Rachel Lavada married about 1870, probably in Union County, GA
DANIEL, Wade Hampton and CANUP, Ella married 10 Feb 1901, probably in GA
DANIEL, William Wofford and WILSON, Victoria married 1891, probably in Habersham County, GA
DARBEY, Ruben and SELF, Nancy A. married 7 Oct 1859 in Phillips County, AR
DARNELL, Will H. and GARNER, Lilliz May married about 1917, probably in Cherokee County, GA
DAUBY, Unknown and CASSIDY, Bertha married about 1897, probably in IN
DAVIS, Alfred and SELF, Sally B. married 27 Mar 1841 in Richmond County, VA
DAVIS, Andrew Jackson and SELF, Sarah Ellen married unknown probably in DeKalb County, GA
DAVIS, David and SELF, Sarah E. married 3 Oct 1852 in Hocking County, OH
DAVIS, Franklin and SELF, Mary Telia married 4 Nov 1887, probably in DeKalb County, TN xxxxx
DAVIS, George Fleming and ELLIS, Martha Jane married about 1870 in AL or TX
DAVIS, James J. and BRUMBALOW, Martha A. married 25 Dec 1869 in Gibson County, TN
DAVIS, Richard and SELF, Irena married 16 Jul 1862 in Newton County, TX
DAVIS, Sam V. and SELF, Unknown married about 1910 in GA
DAVIS, Unknown and SELF, Dillie married about 1910, probably in AL
DAVIS, Unknown and SELF, Melza Mabel married about 1918, probably in Jefferson County, AL
DAWSON, Levi E. and SELF, Martha E. married July 30, 1889 in Houston County, GA
DAWSON, Matthew Perry and ROUSEY, Carrie W. married 1899 in Macoupin County, IL
DAWSON, Unknown and HUDSON, Elizabeth married about 1778 in Northumberland County, VA
DAWSON, Walter and SELF, Lila married Dec. 10, 1900 in Houston County, GA
DAY, John C. and MARTIN, Elizabeth J. married 14 Oct 1884 in Butler, OH
DAYLONG, Elmer and SELF, Susannah Bell married 22 Aug 1888 in Polk County, MO
DEAN, George and FLOWERS, Blanche Samantha married about 1906, probably in Union County, GA
DEGRAFFENREID, Emanual Tescharner and SELF, Dora Ann married 18 Oct 1893 in Dallas County, AL
DELANO, Robert James and PITMAN, Allie married 5 Sep 1892 probably in Kilmarnock, VA
DENNEY, Silas and BERTRAM, Lena married 1902 in Wayne County, KY
DENNY, William and SELF, Priscilla married 1784 in England
DeWITT, Benjamin Harrison and IVY, Jessie married 30 Jun 1909 in Montgomery County, IL
DeWITT, Isaac Abraham and FOSTER, Eva married 6 Jun 1910 in Montgomery County, IL
DeWITT, Linly Albert and IVY, Oma married 6 Sep 1908 in Montgomery County, IL
DICKENSON, Samuel H. and GILLEY, Cosby Elizabeth married about 1880 probably in VA
DIFANI, Lawrence J. and SELF, Emma E. married Dec. 1888 in St. Genevieve County, MO
DILLAHAY, Robert and SELF, Sarah Ann married 15 Feb 1843 in Dickson County, TN
DILLINGHAM, Unknown and LEDFORD, Vallie married before 1920, probably in Union County, GA
DILLON, Harvey and SELF, Annette married 25 Sep 1896 in Sabine Parish, LA
DIXON, Benjamin Edgar and PHILBECK, Blanche married about 1912, probably in NC
DIXON, Guy Roscoe and LUTZ, Lucy married about 1915, probably in NC
DIXON, Thomas Clarence and BLANTON, Mattie married about 1914, probably in NC
DIXON, Walter Carl and SELF, Marie married about 1916, probably in NC
DIXON, William and McBRAYER, Laura Evaline married about 1897, probably in St. Clair County, AL
DOBBINS, Matthew Leslie and YOUNGBLOOD, James Hezzie married 24 Nov 1907 in Upshur County, GA
DOBBS, Claude Lee and UNKNOWN, Nellie Ann married about 1902, probably in Cotton County, OK
DOBBS, Conley H. and UNKNOWN, Anna H. married about 1908, probably in Clay County, TX
DOBBS, George Wayne and ATKINSON, Stella married about 1913, probably in Washington County, AR
DOBBS, Mack F. and MALTBY, Unknown married 1895, probably in Fannin County, TX
DOBBS, Sidney S. and DICKERSON, Margaret E. married about 1911, probably in Clay County, TX
DOLLAR, Henry and SELF, Mary married 11 Sep 1817 in Elbert County, GA
DOLLY, Sampson and SELF, Rebecca Lovina married 26 Nov 1896 in Ketterman, WV
DONALDSON, Calvin Edward and GOUT, Florence married about 1909, probably in Schuyler County, IL
DONALDSON, Jason and BAKER, Nora married about 1901, probably in Schuyler County, IL
DONOVAN, Dennis and DOBBS, Ivey Dee married 28 Oct 1906, probably in Cotton County, OK
DOOLIN, Barton and SELF, Elizabeth married about 1855 in Johnson or Newton County, AR
DOSTER, L. C. and SELF, Nina A. married about 1915 in Union County, GA
DOSWELL, Thomas and SELF, Sarah married 11 Aug 1887, possibly in Houston County, AL
DOTHARD, Unknown and McGINNIS, Bessie married about 1900 in Anniston, AL
DOUGLAS, Addison and LEWIS, Elizabeth married before 1880, probably in Richmond County, VA
DOUGLAS, Richard and SELF, Lydia married 11 Nov 1880 in Madison County, OH
DOUGLAS, Vincent and SELF, Elizabeth married 7 Feb 1827 in Westmoreland County, VA
DOWDEN, Francis Asbury and SELF, Elizabeth E. married 4 Dec 1895 in Sabine Parish, LA
DOYLE, John Eugene and SELF, Ophelia T. married about 1895
DOYLE, T. T. and SELF, S. A. married 19 Dec 1886 in Wise County, VA
DOZIER, Thomas Chinn and SELF, Fanny Hanson married 23 Dec 1809 in Northumberland County, VA.
DRAKE, Alvin C. and SELF, Mary E. married 1 Jan 1884 in Hocking County, OH
DRAKE, E. and TUNNELL, Ada Leah married before 1900 in Comanche County, TX
DRAKE, James Wesley and SHELTON, Effie married 1910
DRAKE, Jesse Moore and PASSWATER, Pearl married before 1920 in Muskogee, OK
DRAKE, John and SELF, Stella married 1 Jun 1912 in Bell County, TX
DRAKE, William Lee and JOHNSON, Juanita married before 1920 in OK
DRICKARD, Tom and BERRY, Lilla I. married about 1900
DRISCOLL, A. J. and SELF, Lillie Dene married 15 Sep 1908 in Gonzales County, TX
DRIVER, Columbus and SMITH, Ava married 12 Feb 1908 in DeKalb County, TN
DRIVER, Elijah L. and OAKLEY, Millie married 31 Jul 1910 in DeKalb County, TN
DRIVER, Hamilton and SMITH, Ava married 5 Jan 1908 in DeKalb County, TN
DRIVER, Jim B. and SELF, Mintie married 27 Jun 1915, probably in Collin County, TX
DRIVER, Leon S. and OAKLEY, Verchie married 5 Jan 1908 in DeKalb County, TN
DRIVER, Robert H. and SELF, Fannie married 15 Jun 1915 in DeKalb County, TN
DRIVER, Samuel and SELF, Nettie married 17 Jul 1910 in DeKalb County, TN
DRUDGE, Thomas and SELF, Mary married unknown in Burley, Hampshire, England
DRURY, Unknown and SHIFFLETT, Elsa Leota married about 1900 possibly in Shelby County, OH
DRYDEN, Unknown and SELF, Mary B. married about 1886, probably in Ripley County, MO
DUCKWORTH, Charlie G. and SMATHERS, Ella married 11 Dec 1904, probably in Union County, GA
DUCKWORTH, Henry and PILCHER, Williebell married about 1914, probably in GA
DUCKWORTH, Sam and COLLINS, Julia married before 1920, probably in Union County, GA
DUCKWORTH, Sam and NIX, Lillie married before 1920, probably in Union County, GA
DUCKWORTH, Vester and BOWEN, Rubye married about 1912, probably in GA
DUCKWORTH, William G. and NIX, Celia married 28 Aug 1871, probably in Union County, GA
DUCKWORTH, William Marion and HARKINS, Mary Jane married 23 Jul 1900, probably in Union County, GA
DUNAVAN, Leslie Martin and AURE, Isabel S. married 16 Jul 1898 in Morgan County, IL
DUNCAN, A. M. and SELF, Female married unknown in Knoxville, Crawford County, GA
DUNCAN, T. P. and SELF, Melissa married Apr. 26, 1896 in Houston County, GA
DUNHAM, Henry Frank and GIFFORD, Thomas married 9 Feb 1882 possibly in Pulaski County, IN
DUNN, Squire and KELLY, Mathilda Malinda married in Blount County, AL
DUNN, Unknown and THOMAS, Emma K. married before 1910
DUNNING, George H. and SHIFFLETT, Ione Lucille married 7 May 1902 in Grinnell, IA
DUNNUCK, Benjamin and MITCHELL, Sarah Frances married 17 Jun 1877 in Kosciusko County, IN
DUNSTON, Robert and SHIFFLETT, Elizabeth A. married 20 Mar 1870 in Shelby County, OH
DUPREE, Wright and WRIGHT, Rosa May married about 1914, probably in IT (OK)
DURHAM, Crawford P. and PENNINGTON, Minnie C. married about 1908, probably in NC
DURHAM, Unknown and LANGLEY, Sarah Jane married about 1880 probably in Gilmer County, GA
DURHAM, Unknown and SELF, Victoria married before 1900 in NC
DYE, George and SELF, Caldona married 16 Nov 1879 in Clay County, NC
DYER, Albert and COLLINS, Nina married before 1920, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, Andrew J. and CHASTAIN, Mary A. married 16 Aug 1866 in Saline County, AR
DYER, David Marcus and NIX, Emma Lena married about 1909, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, Franklin Hedden and NIX, Dora married about 1918, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, Herschel and COLLINS, Lillie married before 1920, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, Jeff and NIX, Ola Dell married about 1916, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, Jesse L. and COLLINS, Cannie married about 1907, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, John and HUNTER, Mary A. married about 1887, probably in Union County, GA
DYER, William Franklin and DIEHL, Nellie Ethel married 2 Jul 1915 in Ventura County, CA
DYER, William N. and SOUTHER, Celia Jane married about 1875, probably in Union County, GA
DYKE, Thomas and SELFE, Elizabeth married about 1860 in East Woodhay, Hampshire, England

(Next: Dead Ends "E")

Maybe your ancestors used to tell stories about life in the "old days," stories you remember hearing as a child. Please tell us about them. We will even supply editing and formatting; but we'd all love to know about daily life in the Self families of old--and you may be able to help. Please contact us. And please state that your story is specifically for the newsletter.

LOOSE ENDS

Please go to our "Loose Ends" subsection at our SelfSite at RootsWeb.

DEAD ENDS

Please go to our "Dead Ends" subsection at our SelfSite at RootsWeb.

SELFS IN SPACE

What would you like to see here? This space is reserved for any topic of interest to Self cousins. Express YourSelf!!

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