Wait a Minute

      Now just you wait a minute. You've got to be kidding. Cad or Gad, forch or farch, varch or vorch you say. What makes you think they are all the same person? Why not four different individuals? C to G, o to a, and f to v, all letters that seem a far distance between each other in my English alphabet. A good question it is for all you family tree climbers. Hum...let's see.

      First, you need to trust your source of information. How correct, accurate, and reliable is the reference. Is there a way to corroborate (make more certain) the names, dates, locations, events, and stories that are recorded. 

      Second, are there more than one source that records the information. A family tree listed in one source should pretty match another. 

      Thirdly, double check that you are copying correctly the given facts. 

      Now in the case of our Gadforch (JA-1), the primary text is perhaps the most famous Welsh genealogical text Heraldic Visitations Of Wales and Part of the March, by Lewys Dwnn. (front page of my copy shown last post). It is stated here that between 1586 and 1613, "Transcribed From The Original Sources" by Dwnn, and that he is listed as "Deputy Herald At Arms." The copy shown last post is edited by Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick, and published 1846 in two volumes. In Vol.I, on page xv, JA-1 is spelled Cadfarch. On page 307 Vol. II, the name is spelled Kadfrach. Here we go, spelled two different ways in this trusted source of Welsh family trees.

      A second reference written by Thomas Nicholas, and first published 1872, is titled Annals and Antiquities of The Counties and County Families of Wales. It has been my favorite and most useful for climbing out the many branches of my Jones family tree. It also has two volumes, and on page 307 (Vol II) JA-1 is spelled Kadfarch. A copy of the cover page follows.

      A third source is The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland And Wales: Comprising A Registry Of Armorial Bearings From The Earliest To The Present. Written by Sir Bernard Burke, and his present time was 1884. On page 1035, JA-1 is spelled Cadforch. This text was one of the first accounts that got me climbing out many branches. The front page of my original copy found in a rare book room, Lexington, KY many years ago follows.

      In each of these sources the agnatic (male descent) matched, except for the spellings. Now wait a minute, how would you spell JA-1?