Sometimes we have something that we simply do not want. Other times we see something that we want, but we just can’t have it. We are all given something at birth, a special gift from our parents that we will carry until our last day. If we love what they have bequeathed to us we are most fortunate, but if we don’t love their gift, we have a choice; make a change or create something new. Obviously, I am talking about your name.
When I was born, my parents were not certain about the name they would assign to me. Questions arose about a name because there were several names my parents really did like. Should we use a name we like or should we look back in history and bestow a name once common in our family?
My grandfather, and his father and his father before, all carried the same name: Martin Henry Spain. But my grandparents decided not to name any of their six children Martin Henry Spain. They named my father James William Spain, and at the last moment, as my parents prepared to leave the hospital where I was born, they decided to name me James William Spain too. To distinguish the uniqueness of my name they added the Roman numeral “II” after my name. Decades passed and I met the woman I married, we had a daughter first and easily agreed upon a wonderful and loving name for her. Our second child was a son, discussions followed and a decision had to be made. My wife and I agreed to “carry on” the tradition by naming him James William Spain. His name is followed by the Roman numeral “III” to distinguish his name. Our family continued to grow with the birth of another daughter and then another son. We are fortunate and blessed to have our loving family. Interesting enough, our two youngest children were given names that begin with “J.”
Some people feel that a name is a name and they simply do not raise concerns with their names. Years ago, when concerns were different in life, we learned that our name is something that must be retained in a positive manner. People often made comments about your reputation. People would say things such as, “You have a good name” or “your reputation precedes you.” In other words, if you were a local hooligan that caused trouble you would carry that burden identified by your name. Very interesting how our ancestors perceived life for better or for worse for some.
Over a century ago names were quite interesting and not as common as names used during the twentieth century. Enoch’s and Ebenezer’s were replaced with simple names and often routed in religion. Names such as John, Luke, Micael and James were popular. Young woman might be named after virtues such as Hope or Patience. It was during the post-Revolutionary War period when our ancestors became inspired while naming their children in a most creative way, honor and respect for people that inspired them in this new land. This land where freedom was earned and British control was a thing from the past.
The years following the American Revolution brought a new process to naming your young
newborn child. Young parents started naming their children after famous people, people that they believed in. If your last name was Jones, you might select the name George Washington Jones for your new son, or perhaps John Quincy Adams Jones. Our glorious leaders so steeped with patriotism found they were inspiring the use of their names for the next generation.
During the late 1700s and early 1800s, we find there were many young boys bequeathed the names of Washington, Adams and Franklin. To proof my comments right here in Concord. I took a relaxing walk down to our Old North Cemetery. This cemetery was initially established in 1730, predating the American Revolution. I did not find the gravestones prior to the American Revolution engraved with the famous names of our forefathers.
I walked a bit further back in the cemetery to an area with burials that coincided with my thoughts. I stopped at a nearby granite gravestone and spent some time with Washington Woodbury, born in 1803 he passed away in 1891. Quite obviously his parents named him in the decades following the American Revolution. But Washington Woodbury and his wife Dolly decided to continue the “Washington” name with at least one of their sons. They called him George Washington Woodbury and he was born in 1832 and passed at a young age in 1852 in Natchez, Mississippi. I did venture to some additional old cemeteries this late summer day. I even found another George Washington right here in Concord.
Yes, names are very special. In this day and age our young parents have become quite creative with naming their children. Some of the new names are a challenge to pronounce but I am very pleased to see them. History will record our names in a good light; nobody names their children after dead presidents or statesmen anymore. I do have to reflect how I would have been perceived in my early elementary school days if my name was George Washington Spain. Another story for another day perhaps.