Adde Turnbow
My grandfather, Edward Adde Turnbow, signed his name "E.A. Turnbow." He even signed letters to his children and grandchildren this way.
He was not known as "Edward" or "Ed". Occasionally, people that did not know him would try to call him "Ed", but they would be wrong.
He did go by the curious name of "Adde." So, in case anyone comes along wondering about the origin of this name, I'm here to tell you about it!
"Adde" is pronounced "Add". Now, why the "e" at the end? He was named after his Uncle, Jacob Ad Brown. But note that the uncle spelled the name the way it sounds. For whatever reason, Grandpa's parents chose to add a "d" and "e" to the name. His father could write, but mother couldn't. Either they didn't know how to spell it, and made it up, or John Turnbow "fixed" the spelling, using the power he had as one that could write, and give it a classier look. And I will agree, that "Adde" looks better than "Ad", all apologies to my Brown kin notwithstanding.
But this takes us to the logistical next step - where did "Ad" come from? My guess is that there had to be a Brown relative after whom he was named, perhaps there was an "Addison" along the way, or an "Adam" that was more familiarly known as "Ad". It will take further research to solve this mystery!
Meanwhile, it was my pleasure to get to know the daughter ofthe original Ad Brown: my first cousin twice removed, Mona Shacklett. Cousin Mona, who was pushing 90 years old when I met her in Nashville back in 1989, was first married to a Mr. Rochelle, and had five sons. I got to know this wonderful family, with whom we shared wonderful paternal ancestors called simply, "Ad".