Mom’s Story: Unusual Names, Deep Geneology

People have sometimes asked how I got my name. I can only say it’s a family name that started “somewhere.” I’m the third (of five). My mother wrote the following. It’s not a precise family tree, but an interesting commentary on a theme (or two). 

This Moore family still goes in for unusual names. When I got married your dad’s mother told me that their family was known in Rawlins as THE FAMILY WTH THE UNUSUAL NAMES.

Her name was Madge, a nickname for Marguerite Didama, that she pronounced MARGUE-RIGHT DIDAMEE. (I think she had a third name besides.) Of course, you know your grandfather’s name, Hyatt.

(That grandfather mentioned to me once when I was a child that he thought the name Hyatt came from a great uncle way back, and that, as a surname.)

The children in Dad’s family were Comer (Madge’s maiden name), Hyatt (Jr.), Sterling, Muriel, Burwin, Orrelle and Melva. Besides Hyatt, the names Sterling and Orrelle have been used in generations following.

It’s only coincidence this comes up on Independence Day weekend. But there’s John Morton’s name, perhaps with less flourish than John Handcock’s, but just as determined, and just as risky.

On my side, my Uncle Lute was two years younger than my mother, being the youngest of a family of 12 children, five boys and seven girls. There were two I never knew the names of who died in infancy. John, Ami and Lute were the boys. John was in the Spanish American War. Then the girls were Rose, Mattie, May, Bess, Eva, Nellie (my mother) and her twin, Nettie, who died as a toddler. Both John and Rose died of T.B, unheard of these days.

My Aunt Eva did a family history research and claimed we are descended from the John Morton who signed The Declaration of Independence. 

There was a John Morton in every generation since “the signer.”

She always said WE DIDN’T COME OVER ON THE MAYFLOWER – WE JUST WENT DOWN TO MEET IT !

I think it can be proved that our family on both my mother and father’s side have been in the USA since the 1600s. Others in my family have been doing family history and also claim this to be true.

Well, whether or not it is true, we are at least thankful that staunch Christians are in the line and that is what is important.

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Speaking of “deep genealogy” that will be something of my topic tomorrow. I’ll be at Heritage Christian Fellowship, San Clemente, both at 9:00 and 11:00. Not only speaking, I’ll be making a large painting at the same time. Also risky. Come and see.