Funny Name ....??

[Terri]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/terrilast/BenjBirdmarriage-Copy.jpg

The top witness on this marriage, it says Bray Bird, does it not? :d
The can't be a real name, surely, but I can't think what it might be short for, or abbreviated from.
Any ideas anyone?

[Uncle John]

The groom signed with a cross, so perhaps his ?brother's? spelling was a bit weak and he was actually Barry.

[Merry]

There's a load of bap entries (1760/70s) in FreeReg for Bawdeswell in Norfolk where the parents are Bray and Margaret Bird. :)

Bray was buried 19th Jan 1810 in Necton, Norfolk aged 70.

[Terri]

So it's likely he really is called Bray?

I'd never have believed that ...........!!
Thanks Merry, Bray it is then!

[Nell]

You may well find that Bray is a surname in the family. I have a Norfolk ancestor called Frost Massingham as his mother's maiden name was Frost. Also a Warwickshire gt x 2 grandfather called Emmets Matthews, Emmets being his paternal grandmother's maiden name.

[Merry]

I had thought Benjaminn was his son, but there's no bap for a Benjamin Bird with Bray as a father unless it's mistranscribed.

[Nell]

Oh and a coincidence - James Massingham of my Massingham lot married a Sophia BIRD in Langham in 1816.

[Joy Dean]

Lovely name that :)

Reminds me of a Jolly Sadd that I saw once while searching the IGI on fiche in a library ... :)

Thinking of the surname Bird - a great-aunt married a Harry Bugbird :)

[Merry]

I have a Sparrow in my tree :rolleyes::d

[Nell]

Husband has Robins and Hawks!

[Terri]

Thanks guys, you made me laugh! Jolly Sadd - that is a classic!
I was slightly optimistic that Bray might be Benjamin's father also ..... another rellie maybe.
They liked the letter B ..... I have Benj, Belinda, Bridget and Barnabus in the same family!

[Nell]

Maybe that's because all the baby linen was embroidered with B.

[Uncle John]

Perhaps a later generation married into the Rawlings family to match the cutlery and towels.