Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2016 October 20

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October 20

Fred W. Phelps (1929-2014)

Hi. Phelp´s name was diminutive or Frederick or diminutive of Alfred? Thanks 79.145.27.117 (talk) 19:16, 20 October 2016 (UTC)

I cannot find any official record of his birth certificate or census records (which are not normally available to the public), but looking at the Wikipedia article Fred Phelps, and also checking on the original sources cited in that article, it appears his birth name was "Fred Waldron Phelps", that is Fred is his full first name, it is not diminutive of anything else. --Jayron32 19:38, 20 October 2016 (UTC)

Census records (available via a pay site that I use) show 1940 as Fred W Phelps Jr. age 10; father Fred W Phelps Sr. age 46; and head of household / aunt Irene Jackson. 1930 has Fred W Phelps father and head of household, age 36; Catherine Phelps wife age 23; and Fred W Phelps age 5 / 12. No "Sr." or "Jr." in the 1930 report. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:54, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

Just a general note, which it would have been nice to mention regarding a more appealing figure: Phelps was born in Mississippi. In the American South, many people have first names that might appear to be diminutives or nicknames, but actually are their genuine legal birth names. Bob Jones, Sr. was really Bob, not Robert. This does not actually hold of Jimmy Carter (he was born James, but appeared as Jimmy on most (all?) ballots), but if it had, it would not have been a surprise. --Trovatore (talk) 19:03, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

Oops -- looks like I was wrong about Bob Jones. I'll see if I can think of another example. --Trovatore (talk) 19:06, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

It's not just the south. I've got several Freds in my family tree, all of them northerners. Some were Fredericks, others were just plain Fred. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 20:28, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

Jimmy Wales is the example par excellence. 86.128.234.239 (talk) 21:21, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

In 1930 the recently deceased Fred W Phelps was obviously five months old, and the age is given as "5/12". I've never seen that formation before - is it a standard shorthand in the (presumably) federal census department? 86.128.234.239 (talk) 21:27, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

NOTE: The above two postings are by banned user Vote (X) for Change. I'm not deleting them, and am assuming "entire responsibility" for them per WP:BANREVERT. Any other user may delete them, of course. Tevildo (talk) 07:13, 24 October 2016 (UTC)

Yes, federal. I've looked at quite a few old censuses, and the n/12 designation is typically used in the "age at last birthday" column instead of saying "0". The 1930 census sheet is dated April 14. His actual birthdate, according to Wikipedia, was November 13, 1929, which is 5 months and 1 day before the census sheet was filled out. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:40, 21 October 2016 (UTC)

And according to the Federal Census instructions, the month notation is only to be used for children born during the census year (so no older than 1 year). Sometimes, though those instructions were either ignored or misunderstood, so you may see an occasional 1 and 5/12. - Nunh-huh 04:05, 24 October 2016 (UTC)

Admiral (ret.) Bobby Ray Inman's legal first name really is Bobby iirc. 50.0.205.96 (talk) 04:32, 22 October 2016 (UTC)

Charles the First

Who chopped Charles the first head off during the 1649?- 72.159.154.170

This question was originally posted on a talk page of a red linked article. It was moved here by User:Feinoha. Feinoha ^Talk 20:44, 20 October 2016 (UTC)

Quote: 'The executioner was masked and disguised, and there is debate over his identity. The commissioners approached Richard Brandon, the common hangman of London, but he refused, at least at first, despite being offered £200. It is possible he relented and undertook the commission after being threatened with death, but there are others who have been named as potential candidates, including George Joyce, William Hulet and Hugh Peters.[282] The clean strike, confirmed by an examination of the king's body at Windsor in 1813,[283][h] suggests that the execution was carried out by an experienced headsman.[285]' from Charles I of England. _Muffled ^Pocketed 20:56, 20 October 2016 (UTC)