Can't read Martha's surname

**elaine** · 14-07-2011 07:54 PM

Can anybody work out Martha's surmame please

It was transcribed as Martha Clothier!

**JanetH** · 14-07-2011 08:18 PM

looks like Martha Moss. They used to spell it Mofs. I have something similar in my Moss tree.

Jan x

**elaine** · 14-07-2011 08:33 PM

Thanks for that, just sizing up the m in Martha and I initially thought maybe pl/sl... but can see the m now!

**slizzy** · 14-07-2011 10:42 PM

I agree Martha Moss.

When there was a double 'S' the first was written long, followed by a short 'S'. The 'long S' resembled the letter f.

**The Lady Marion** · 15-07-2011 08:39 AM

Elaine, Sorry but I am going with Mofs..

Marion

**pejay** · 15-07-2011 01:39 PM

Hi I thought at first it was Ross but I noticed it is on the IGI marriages as Moss

**elaine** · 15-07-2011 07:19 PM

Well, looked at surnames pre 1812 and plenty of Mofs and Moss! Oh dear...

**slizzy** · 15-07-2011 07:33 PM

Take a look here, Elaine

Long s - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also Google 'BabelStone Rules for long S'

**elaine** · 15-07-2011 07:52 PM

That's why I keep looking at the 2 spellings, babelstone explains it well and would be Moss

**slizzy** · 15-07-2011 07:54 PM

Exactly, Elaine. It's MOSS, but probably often mistranscribed as MOFS.

Thread: Can't read Martha's surname