For the genealogist unusual names have a particular attraction as trivia. There's a list on Wikipedia here, a tribute to the eccentricities of some parents, or to people who switch to an unusual name.
Take the case of Alphabet (or Alpha) Pepper, Ann Bertha Cecelia Diana Emily Fanny Gertrude Hypatia Inez Jane Kate Louisa Maud Nora Ophelia Quince Rebecca Starkey Teresa Ulysis Venus Winifred Xenephon Yetty Zeus Pepper. Her birth registration, in West Derby, Lancashire, in the first quarter of 1883, occupies three lines in the index. According to a Rootsweb, WorldConnect entry she was born 19 Dec 1882 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, baptized on 2 January 1883 St Peter's, Liverpool. Her father was Arthur and mother Sarah Jane (nee Creighton) with marriage registered in the June quarter of 1882.
By the time of the 1891 census the family is in Hammersmith, London, her father a cab driver (Groom) age 38, her mother also age 38.
In the 1901 census Arthur appears as a widower, working as a cab proprieter, still in Kensington, London. There is a Sarah Jane Pepper, age 46 in the death registration index for Fulham, London, in the September quarter of 1899. Ann eludes me in 1901. There is neither death nor marriage registration for her before the 1901 census. It's possible the record was under one of her middle names, or maybe she didn't like the measly options presented by her parents and selected something else.
A death registration for an Arthur Pepper in 1908 is the right age for the father. He must have been proud of the name. Time reported in its January 26, 1931 edition that in his will he left property of £95, giving power of attorney to a relative named Ann Bertha Cecelia Diana Emily Fanny Gertrude Hypatia Inez Jane Kate Louisa Maud Nora Ophelia Quince Rebecca Starkey Teresa Ulysis Venus Winifred Xenephon Yetty Zeus Pepper.
If anyone knows of Ann's fate please post a comment.
12 June 2007
Unusual Names
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2 comments:
I can add some detail.
Alpha’s mother was Sarah Jane, she was born Hughes in 1853. In June 1872 she married Hugh Creighton, she married Arthur Pepper on May 15th 1882. Sarah died in July 1899 in Fulham London.
Alpha was born December 19th, 1882 West Derby Lancashire; Christening was January 2nd, 1883 St Peters Liverpool.
She lived with her father and mother in Hammersmith London in 1891 (Census).
She isn’t at her father’s address on the 1901 census.
October 14th 1906 landed in New York, she sailed from Liverpool (Oct 6th) on the ship Etruria, and she used the name Nan Pepper on the Passenger list.
It seems she adopted the name “Nan” in America.
Her father Arthur Pepper died January 12, 1908 at 37 Oxford Gardens Kennsington, he left her £95
February 16th, 1910 she married Arthur Von Der Donk Wait (1875-1955) his family were Dutch, United Methodist Church, Otsego, New York, United States
Her son Gale Pepper Wait was born January 10th, 1919 in New York (he died in 1997).
In the 1910 & 1920 census she lived in Orangetown Rockland NY, Same for the New York State census of 1925.
1928 She appears in the city directory in Nyack NY
November 1943 she appears in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index listed as “Nan Pepper Wait” daughter of Sarah Creighton & Arthur Pepper Her social security number was 113206918.
She is in New York on the 1930 & 1940 census records.
She died April 14th, 1945 NY Certificate Number 8710, using the name ‘Nan Wait”
She is buried Sparkill, Rockland County, New York, United States of America
Her mother was Sarah Jane, she was born Hughes in 1853. In June 1872 she married Hugh Creighton, she married Arthur Pepper on May 15th 1882. Sarah died in July 1899 in Fulham London.
She was born December 19th, 1882 West Derby Lancashire; Christening was January 2nd, 1883 St Peters Liverpool.
She lived with her father and mother in Hammersmith London in 1891 (Census).
Her mother Sarah died July 1899 • Fulham, London, Middlesex, England
She isn’t at her father’s address on the 1901 census.
October 14th 1906 landed in New York, she sailed from Liverpool (Oct 6th) on the ship Etruria, and she used the name Nan Pepper on the Passenger list.
It seems she adopted the name “Nan” in America.
Her father Arthur Pepper died January 12, 1908 at 37 Oxford Gardens Kennsington, he left her £95
February 16th, 1910 she married Arthur Von Der Donk Wait (1875-1955) his family were Dutch, United Methodist Church, Otsego, New York, United States
Her son Gale Pepper Wait was born January 10th, 1919 in New York (he died in 1997).
In the 1910 & 1920 census she lived in Orangetown Rockland NY, Same for the New York State census of 1925.
1928 She appears in the city directory in Nyack NY
November 1943 she appears in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index listed as “Nan Pepper Wait” daughter of Sarah Creighton & Arthur Pepper Her social security number was 113206918.
She is in New York on the 1930 & 1940 census records.
She died April 14th, 1945 NY Certificate Number 8710, using the name ‘Nan Wait”
She is buried Sparkill, Rockland County, New York, United States of America
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