Names in 19th Century Birth Records

Question

Is it common for a first or middle name to be omitted in birth records from the early 19^th century? Here is the issue: It is popular belief among people involved in researching my line of Gray’s, that Horatio Nelson Gray (Gray-3820) is the son of Dominicus Gray (Gray-22536) and Elizabeth Webb (Webb-27003) of Arlington, Vermont. Dominicus had several boys. None of them, including Nelson, were document with more than a single name in the Vermont Births and Christenings records. Searching gravestones, still none of the other sons indicate more than a single name. Nelson, son of Dominicus, was the only Nelson (or Horatio) Gray discovered who was born at the correct time and location, both of which are well documented through Christ Church in D.C. No one, to my knowledge, has found any document which confirms the names of Nelson’s parents. Are we wrong in assuming that Nelson and Horatio Nelson are the same person? Thanks.

Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-T8SY-JN?cc=1784223&wc=MFVW-BM9%3A1029381701

Comments

The record to which you link is unlikely to be a contemporary record of Nelson's birth. Without seeing the original documentation, we can't tell how faithful the transcribed data is.

Either way, birth records (from pre-1900 at least, in my experience) don't always contain full data on the documented individuals.

Without being able to view original documentation (basically primary authoritative records like birth-, marriage-, death-related records), we really can't tell one way or the other if Nelson Gray and Horatio Nelson Gray represent the same person.

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Thank you. That is helpful.