Talk:John DeCow

Consistency of spelling between DeCou and DeCow?
Wondering about establishing a consistency of usage between this entry and that for DeCou House. Throughout the Decou House entry, the reference is to DeCow even though the entry itself is entitles DeCou. Since the place and the house are known today as DeCew and the alternate spellings are referred to in the articles, would it not make the entries more useful to consistently refer to he and the house as DeCew? Natty10000 (talk) 16:47, 19 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I don't think there is a right and a wrong answer to the question of the spelling of this name. DeCow is taken from the preponderance of sources dating from the time of the individual's life (although, there are even variations in this time frame).  DeCou is the spelling used on the plaque on the site of the house.  DeCew is the name of the modern road passing the house, and of the community where he died (Decewsville).  Spelling was not as stable in those days as it is now - for example, in doing research of property owners of a lot next door to me I found 7 consecutive census results which spelled the name of the same individual 7 different ways.  In that case, he was a farmer who probably did not read or write, so probably did not know how to spell his name.  John DeC?? was a person of stature, and most probably quite capable of reading and writing very well, but still the spelling of his name is unclear.  I don't see any real issue with any of these spellings, and all of the alternatives are linked by redirects.  I do think that if it is not to be moved, the spelling within the body of the articles should match the titles, as they originally did.  Miranda1989 (talk) 21:56, 5 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I wasn't so much suggesting a global right or wrong spelling per sé so much as there just being one entry with the alternates all redirecting to the one most supportable spelling. Natty10000 (talk) 23:26, 7 July 2009 (UTC)