I'm curious what the prevailing opinion is about the reliability and consistency of given name abbreviations in 18th- and 19th-century Virginia documents. For example, does "Jas" always mean "James"? Can "Jos" mean anything other than "Joseph"? If we are transcribing names from a primary source of that period, is it wrong to record "Geo" as "George"? Are there professional or ethical standards about this? Many thanks, Ted ********************************** Ted Delaney Archivist & Curator Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum Lynchburg, Virginia (434) 847-1465 [log in to unmask] ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html