Genealogy Chat

I have two marriage certificates for the same lady as she was widowed. Her first marriage states her father's name as Javas Edwards, the second as Jabez Edwards. I KNOW this is the same lady. Is Javas and Jabez the same or derivatives of something else (James?). Can anyone help please. Thank you. Gaynor

gaynor i reckon the registrar wrote down what he thought it was with out checking how it was spelt but i could be wrong!! i normally am:( susie i forgot to say thet i think it was probably jabez! as ive come across that name quite a lot on census's susie

Susie Thanks my mate - what sort of name is Jabez then - only joking Gaynor xx

gaynor i think its the same sort as Xenephon!!! ive got one of them in my tree!!!! lol susie

Gaynor Jabez is Biblical and was quite popular in late Victorian times. It means "brought forth in sorrow" but whether that is a reference to labour pains or not, I can't say. My Norfolk grandfather was Jeuel Jabez and his eldest child was called Jabez. I always called him Uncle Jim although my father sometimes called him Jabe. Helen

Gaynor Here is more information than you could possibly want to know, from a website called Jabez Bible Study (seriously!) JABEZ ja'-bez (ya`bets, "sorrow" ("height)): (1) Place: An unidentified town probably in the territory of Judah, occupied by scribes (1Ch 2:55). (2) Person: The head of a family of Judah, noted for his "honorable" character, though "his mother bare him with sorrow" (1Ch 4:9,10), ya`bets being interpreted as if it stood for ya`tsebh, "he causes pain." The same play upon words recurs in his prayer, "that it be not to my sorrow!" His request was granted, "and the sorrow implied by his ominous name was averted by prayer" (Dummelow, in the place cited.). Helen

Helen, Many thanks - you are just wonderful with what you come up with. With my family of plebs (Ag Labs and Gen Labs) I think the word "sorrow" just about sums it all up!!! Thanks again. Gaynor xx