Handwriting analysis

[Bob Velke]

Some of you know that I'm writing a book about 800 guys who received a medal, The Kearny Cross, in the CW. (400 enlisted, 400 officers). I thought that I'd share today's experience with one of those guys.

The ORs identify him as:
Daniel H. Mayer, a Corporal in Co. C, 40th NY Inf.

Contemporary newspapers call him:
D. H. Mayor

A book about notable NY soldiers calls him:
D. H. Major

His pension file calls him:
David H. Mayes

And the S&S system (CMSRs) calls him:
David H. Moyer

Starting with "Daniel H. Mayer", I only found him elsewhere with the help of wildcards.

What did he call himself? There are only a few examples of his own handwriting. You tell me:

Clearly, the original Daniel is wrong. The evidence (death cert. and A.G. report) leans toward Moyer but do you get that from his signature?

 

[lelliott19]

The evidence (death cert. and A.G. report) leans toward Moyer but do you get that from his signature?

No. I read it as "Mayes" in all instances.

 

[John Hartwell]

I agree, "Mayes" in all examples given. "Moyes" would be at best an "second choice" reading of 1 or 2.

 

[John Winn]

As others have said, David H. Mayes.

 

[Bob Velke]

It is not uncommon for names to change from one generation to the next - or even for a man to spell it more than one way over the course of his lifetime - but, FWIW, his children went by Mayer. And I guess they were responsible for his death certificate saying Mayer.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

At the outset, I would be inclined to accept what the 'Official Records' call him, rather than what any newspaper reports or other secondary book sources say, as being more credible. So I would discount the secondary references to him as 'D. H. Mayor' or 'D. H. Major'.

From the signature information provided (consistent with the official record references), to me his name is clearly:

David H. Mayes

Without any doubt.

 

[John Winn]

It is not uncommon for names to change from one generation to the next - or even for a man to spell it more than one way over the course of his lifetime - but, FWIW, his children went by Mayer. And I guess they were responsible for his death certificate saying Mayer.

I have run into that many times in my research. Sometimes one can see why there was a change but other times it's not really obvious (although there might have been some lost family history that would explain it). I always go with what the person in question used in their lifetime, especially if there are records in his/her own hand.

We also have to look closely at the evidence and how such was created. What death certificates say can often just be mistakes made by those filling out the form or by non-family members reporting (for examples). It can get complicated and even end up forever debatable. In the end we often just have to go with what seems the most probable based on what evidence we have uncovered.

In this situation I'd say go with what the man himself said.

 

[Story]

Some of you know that I'm writing a book about 800 guys who received a medal, The Kearny Cross, in the CW. (400 enlisted, 400 officers). I thought that I'd share today's experience with one of those guys.

Clearly, the original Daniel is wrong. The evidence (death cert. and A.G. report) leans toward Moyer but do you get that from his signature?

I have to do a major shoutout on your behalf, Bob - that's an excellent way of presenting evidence for discussion.

I only regret that I have one LIKE to give your post/

 

[John Hartwell]

Is there a regimental history, or memoir, letters, etc that mention him? If so, it would suggest what his comrades called him, whether they knew the precise spelling or not.

 

[Ole Miss]

It appears to be his last name is Mayer
Regards
David

 

[Nathan Stuart]

I have to do a major shoutout on your behalf, Bob - that's an excellent way of presenting evidence for discussion.

I only regret that I have one LIKE to give your post/

Agree with the superlative about this form of evidence presentation for discussion.

Look forward to seeing more in this mode.

 

[connecticut yankee]

Phonetically there is a significant difference between the pronunciation of "Mayer" and "Mayes" which at first makes his real name appear quite confusing. But to determine if there in reality is a "r" or a "s" at the end of his name look closely at how he wrote the last letter of his wife's name on the Pension document. At first you may think it ends in an "s" but it actually ends in how he makes his small "r". The proof is how he forms the letter "r" throughout the document such as in the word "October". (the r's are all identical). He always ends by looping the letter "r" inward, ie., back on itself so to speak, so that it appears to be more like someone today would form a cursive "s".

I have no doubt his name is David H. Mayer.

 

[Bob Velke]

FWIW, I've deliberately avoided giving my opinion in order to encourage discussion.

Is there a regimental history, or memoir, letters, etc that mention him? If so, it would suggest what his comrades called him, whether they knew the precise spelling or not.

None that I know of. It would add an interesting twist in the discussion if what other people called him seemed to conflict with what he called himself.

But to determine if there in reality is a "r" or a "s" at the end of his name look closely at how he wrote the last letter of his wife's name on the Pension document. At first you may think it ends in an "s" but it actually ends in how he makes his small "r". The proof is how he forms the letter "r" throughout the document such as in the word "October". (the r's are all identical). He always ends by looping the letter "r" inward, ie., back on itself so to speak, so that it appears to be more like someone today would form a cursive "s".

Yes, see especially the "our" in "our marriage certificate."

I'm glad to see this sort of analysis and it is the reason that I posted the entire document. So often you see someone post a few words or a signature and ask for opinions about what it says - but such a thing really needs to be evaluated in context and in comparison to other examples of the same person's handwriting.

It is harder with ethnic names like this and it really devolves into speculation when the subject himself is illiterate and merely "makes his mark." We're lucky to have some handwriting for comparison in this case.

I have no doubt his name is David H. Mayer.

I wonder if your reasoning has given pause to any of those who were convinced otherwise?

One last thought: there's not always a "right answer."

 

[lupaglupa]

It's hard for me to step away from the children's decision to use Mayer. It's not uncommon for a family to Anglicize a word - Meijer to Mayer would be an example. But Mayes is a perfectly common name and not hard to say or spell and not at all ethnic (would one want to hide ethnicity as people did at various times in the past). Both the wife and children heard him pronounce the name so them must have heard an R on the end, not an S.

 

[John Winn]

FWIW, I've deliberately avoided giving my opinion in order to encourage discussion.



None that I know of. It would add an interesting twist in the discussion if what other people called him seemed to conflict with what he called himself.



Yes, see especially the "our" in "our marriage certificate."

I'm glad to see this sort of analysis and it is the reason that I posted the entire document. So often you see someone post a few words or a signature and ask for opinions about what it says - but such a thing really needs to be evaluated in context and in comparison to other examples of the same person's handwriting.

It is harder with ethnic names like this and it really devolves into speculation when the subject himself is illiterate and merely "makes his mark." We're lucky to have some handwriting for comparison in this case.



I wonder if your reasoning has given pause to any of those who were convinced otherwise?

One last thought: there's not always a "right answer."

I'm sticking with Mayes. He made the debatable letter in several different ways. I'm looking at the word Yes and his first signature in the top-most document page. I agree the r's look similar, though.

 

[Story]

It's hard for me to step away from the children's decision to use Mayer. It's not uncommon for a family to Anglicize a word - Meijer to Mayer would be an example. But Mayes is a perfectly common name and not hard to say or spell and not at all ethnic (would one want to hide ethnicity as people did at various times in the past). Both the wife and children heard him pronounce the name so them must have heard an R on the end, not an S.

Adding my domino to this line of thought, remember that if David had a heavy accent when he enlisted his name became what the recruiting clerk heard.

Blenderizing of last name spellings in the military was still a thing in the late 20th Century.