This page was put on the web 6 May 1999 to give Sue credit
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 19 Jan 1999 11:33:44 EST
Subject: PHONETICS AND IMMIGRANTS
Hello All,
One thing we should all keep in mind is that surnames were many times spelled phonetically by the person writing the record (whether it be marriage, census, land, etc.). I can't tell you how many times I've found my families under the weirdest of spellings. Killion, Killen, Killian, Chilleon, Killiard...you name it, it's been found that way. In my family, the name was Kilian/Killian. It is said that when they came to America (they were German), they felt they had to change their name to KilliOn, in order to sound more American. Some of the family still uses the A in the name, however.

Also, for those of you who can't seem to find your connection, please look into the original Killi*n immigrants, here are some that I have found:

Heinrich Killian, age 30 (also listed as Henry Kilon) came on the ship Joyce 30 Nov 1730 from Palatine.

Matheus Kilian, age 44 (listed as Maties Schilion) came on the ship Molly 17 Oct 1741 from Palatine

Johannes Kilian, age 20 (listed on oath of allegiance as Johannes Keulian, I believe) came 25 Nov 1740 on the ship Royal Judith from Palatine

Casper Killian, found as Casper Kilian, came on 19 Sept 1749 on the ship Patience from Palatine. He is found in some of the Berks County, PA records during 1752-1757. He gives his wife's name as Catherine Margaretha.

Michael Killian, found as Michael Kilian, came on 26 Sept 1749 on the ship Dragon from Palatine. Interesting that he follows so closely after Casper.

There was supposedly a Killian Killian who came around 1720 from Palatine to Berks County, PA. The only thing I've been able to find even similar is a listing for a Kilian Kihnlin during the 1740s in Berks County, PA.

These ships are all online:

http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy/shipind.htm (Royal Judith)
http://www.execpc.com/~trarbach/Patience/1749Patience.html (Patience)
http://iigs.rootsweb.com/immships/1700/molly411016.html (Molly)
http://www.ristenbatt.com/genealogy/shipind1.htm (Dragon)
http://www.rootsweb.com/~GENHOME/imm3b.htm (Joyce)
There were also several Killian/Killion men who fought for the British during the Rev. War. I'm checking into a Michael Killion now. I believe there was also a John and an Andrew...anyone found any others?

I hope this helps someone.

Sue 1

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