On 6 Jul 2023 Paul Snook wrote on Smit-70: Will all researchers please note - some documents particularly baptism records list Maarten and his siblings as Smit and or Smith, what has happened, some researchers have inadvertenly duplicated entries using Smit or Smith as the family name. I am currently trying to resolve an issue with [Smit-5796] and [Smith-77292] married to J H Hellberg, her first names are Anna Catharina who was baptised 16 April 1758. By coincidence one of the witnesses at the baptism was another Anna Catharina Smith and David van der Merwe the mothers brother. Then to complicate matters there is another Anna Catharina Smit [Smit-5796] with the same baptism date who married a Jansen. I contacted her profile manager but they too are at a loss concerning the correct identification. Concerning the mixing and use of both family names I am of the opinion that we should follow the example used by the Cape of Good Hope Project WikiTree for [Smidt-148] where the use of aka Smith is used. Note to add to the confusion his father is [Smit-35] he become [Smidt-148] his son becomes [Smit-70] his daughter Anna Cathariana becomes [Smith-257636] I would be delighted if a member of the GOCH could give guidance with the use of a family name and an aka and help resolve who these Anna Catharina's married.
