I think that I hear researchers vacillate and argue more about the correct spelling of a person's name than any other family history related activity. Sometimes the arguments become vehement. Genealogical guru Michael John Neill tackles this question in a wonderful blog post "The Rite of Spelling Wright Right" from his Genealogy Tip of the Day blog. It is a common problem and the spelling of names certainly changes through time and sometimes without much explanation. The key point to remember is this: A lot of people simply didn't care so consistent spelling of names is more an exception than the rule. Be open to alternate spellings that would sound similar enough to be worth your while to investigate a bit further.
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