Because we live in a computer age, with on-line spell-checkers, it is easy to forget that only two generations ago spelling was an adventure and not a science.

Dictionaries were only introduced into the majority of UK schools in about 1910. It is said that for many British men, the first time that they saw their own name in print was when they signed up for war in 1914.

For those who could read and write their own name, it was mainly not them who were writing it. Civil servants, Parish, Town, Army, Military clerks, Census takers all did the writing themselves - and spelled things as they understood them.

Finally, on my mother's side of the family the name is Jackson. Two generations before her, were two brothers who lived in properties side by side. One was a Jackman and the other was a Johnstone. The father of both was a Jackson.

Spelling is interesting, but should never be taken as Gospel.

Regards

Chas