52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.  Week #15 Theme - How Do You Spell That?

My husband's grandfather was Jordon Burris (sometimes seen as Jordan). He lived in Oklahoma most of his life, but was born in Missouri.  His father, Mathew, born in Arkansas was listed as Burris, Buris, Barrows, Burrows.  Let's go back another generation. Mathew's father (husband's 2Gt Grandfather) was Josiah Burris, Burrows, Buris, Burroughs.  Not only did he have several name spellings, but he also had several wives... 4 different women, one of whom he married more than once, and another whom he may not have officially married at all.  From these many wives, he had at least 23 children.  It seems that the children could choose the spelling of their surname as they grew up.  So when we track down cousins as we build down the family tree, descendants with various spellings have no idea that they are related to each other.   Through DNA we have found a probable 4Gt Grandfather, Anthony Burrows, of Tennessee. His land in eastern Tennessee is still called Burrows Cove, even though no descendants are living there now.  

We have much to learn about this line of ancestors, but from now on we will go armed... with plenty of various spellings in our notebooks.