bartram-or-bertram

Bartram/Bertram?

jims corner

In an earlier tidbit, I noted that I had come across a different spelling of the Name (Bertram). It was the original spelling of George’s parents — Andrew and Alison Bartram — the first “a” not being the “e” that George used later in life.

Andrew and Alison Bartram immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland in 1812 prior to the outbreak of the War of 1812 and settled in Delhi, New York.

Being from Scotland, they spoke English but with a heavy Scottish brogue. In Scottish the first “a” of the Bartram name was pronounce as a stretched out “b­e-a-r” with a slight rolling of the tongue. It’s hard to describe this on paper but if you ever see me, I can pronounce it for you (hopefully). George’s name of Bartram remained this way for many years until he was indentured as an apprentice tailor in 1833. By this time, the Bartram’s had moved back to New York. (I will address the apprenticeship in a later tidbit). While performing his apprenticeship, it was common for local children to come by the shop, see him working, and call out “Good Morning, Mr. B-a-a-artram” with a strong trill on the “r” to mock his Gaelic pronunciation.

Mr. Little, after the completion of the 7 years apprenticeship, released “Mr. George Bertram” from the original contract. It would be the name George Monilaws Bertram would carry for the rest of his life.

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