Springfield, MA
emigrated to Ohio in 1798
Ok, Xerxes is not that obscure. There is limited choice in X names in the Bible, though.
This is somewhat interesting, though, because the name Xerxes does not appear in the KJV or Geneva Bibles — the KJV renders the king's name as Ahasuerus, while the Geneva Bible says Ahashuerosh. Modern translations give the king his Greek name — Xerxes. So where did Xerxes Paulk get his name? He was a Baptist preacher, and, while the 18th-century Baptists were not known for their learning, someone in his family may have been an educated man with access to a Greek testament or Herodotus.
Again, a terrible name for a Christian child.
Obscure Bible Names Alphabet
Note: There are no W names in the KJV.
As I recall, many copies of the ubiquitous New-England Primer reading textbook included the couplet:
ReplyDeleteXerxes died,
And so shall I.
What would it have been like for young master Paulk to encounter that in reading school?
A shame not to have a "W": non-Biblically, we have:
ReplyDeleteWrestling Brewster (d1810, Brewster, MA) & Wrastling Alden (d1813 in neighboring Duxbury). Anyone know the origin here?
"Names on the stones were unable to be identified ..."
ReplyDeleteEditor, stat!