« on: Tuesday 11 September 07 22:44 BST (UK) »
I have Catt ancestors in Sussex and I have long been fascinated by the name of Philadelphia Catt, she is not of my direct line but is a great auntie (several times removed)
I have helped a friend begin his family history and he has the name of Penn in his first few generations and there is an Eric Penn who is commemorated in the war dead of Westfield which is where most of my Catts came from. It appears that the Penn name is prevalent in Sussex.
I am curious if the name Philadelphia is anything at all to do with the Penn family - William Penn set off to America and founded Pennsylvania and I am sure he also founded Philadelphia - I may be wrong there! I believe he married a girl from Ringmer which brings Sussex into the equation.
Did William Penn name the city and his relatives back home called their daughters after his new city - or did he name the city after a girl from Sussex - which came first - the chicken or the egg - or am I just wild guessing and way off the mark.
It does seems a strange name to have just come out of the air - I never once looked at my newborn daughter and thought "I will call her Philadelphia!"
Interested in any answers you locals may come up with.
Robin
New Zealand
Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire - Busshe/Bushe/Bush, Le Strange/Strange, Whittington, Gunning, Browning, Maltravers
Shropshire - le Strange
Wales - Daylwyn or Deulwyn, Rede, Wirriott,
East Sussex - Catt, Ashdown, Barham, Henley, Hepden, Elliott, Phillips
London - Bush, King, Millis, Jarvis, Mellis(s)
Suffolk - Sewell, Baxter, Martin
Norfolk - Sewell, Larter, Howlett
Tasmania, Australia - Bossward, Wellman
Worcestershire - Beach
Wales, Bristol, Bermondsey - Maurice, Cromwell, Riley