What is Jah the abbreviated name for??

Discussion in 'Ask The Experts' started by Oz Faremeister, Jul 12, 2020.

  1. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    Hi there,

    I've come across this unusual record:

    Baptism: 29 Sep 1665 All Hallows, Bispham, Lancashire, England
    Jah. ffare - son of Jah. ffare
    Abode: Normoss within the Parish of Poolton
    Register: Baptisms 1599 - 1666, Page 31, Entry 13
    Source: Old handwritten copy of Parish Register in Blackpool Central Library

    Normoss is a spot in the Fylde region of Lancashire where my ancestors farmed.

    Now the surname is the easy bit. ffare is an old handwritten spelling for Fare as the ff means a capital F

    But does anyone have any ideas as to what Jah. means for the given name? I don't want to hazard a guess, other than to note that it is classed as a male given name,given Jah. was also the father's name. Sadly the record is only in findmypast and the LOC as a transcription.
     
  2. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    Looking at google Jah can be an abbreviation for Jehovah or Jeremiah. Any other suggestions??
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2020
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  3. arthurk

    arthurk Well-Known Member

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    I very much doubt it would be Jehovah, but I do wonder about Jeremiah. Unless I've missed them, though, I can't see any other abbreviated names on the page - or maybe this was the only one that the minister/clerk didn't know how to spell?
     
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  4. GrannyBarb

    GrannyBarb Custodian of the Family Accounts

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    Any Latin "J" names it could be?
     
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  5. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    Just a guess but Jah is used in the Bible sometimes as Jehovah. I think Jah in this case is his proper name. Not short for anything. They just liked it as a name.
     
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  6. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    There are 4 Jah’s mentioned on Lancashire OPC 3 males and 1 female.
     
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  7. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    I've also been wondering whether it could be a misspelt entry as well. I've sent an email to the Blackpool Central Library to see if they still have the register and can send me a scan or digital picture of the original handwritten entry.
     
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  8. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    I'd be interested to know what the other 3 records are. I can't see any on LOC or findmypast. There also aren't any records for Jeremiah Fare until over a century later in findmypast.
     
  9. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    1665..Jah fare...son of Jah fare All Hallows’
    1818 Jah Mort Daughter of James Mort and Alice, Peel Chapel Little Hutton
    1827 Jah Harris son of Caleb Harris and Elizabeth, St Mary Oldham
    1846 the marriage of Jah Harris and Betty Dronsfield, St. Mary the Virgin Prestwich.
    Family Search:
    Jah Harris 1827
    Jah Mort 1818
    Jah. Fare 1665...admittedly with a stop after his first name
    Jah Jones 1702
    Jah Narraway 1795
    Jah Smethers 1808
    Jah Hartley 1812
    And lots more.
     
  10. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    Aaaah, see what you mean. I thought you meant more Jah Fare's. Does provide some support to the idea that Jah may not be an abbreviation
     
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  11. Archie's Mum

    Archie's Mum Always digging up clues

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    I'm not 100% convinced but I do lean a little to it being used as a first name. They couldn't use Jehovah so went for the alternative. I have read that it means 'everlasting'.
     
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  12. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    Been notified that I'll be waiting a while to get a copy due to a combination of COVID 19 and renovations making the collection at Blackpool inaccessible. Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the matter anyway.
     
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  13. Ma-dotcom

    Ma-dotcom A Bonza Little Digger!

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    Did they have 'Jarred' as a name back when?
     
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  14. Oz Faremeister

    Oz Faremeister Active Member

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    That name doesn't appear later, but that is a good suggestion
     

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