Phil - this seems like it also might be Isaiah (actually "Isaiah's"?).
Working with the 1790s -1820s Forman Store records at Lorenzo (Cazenovia,
of course) it was clear that many of the settlers could spell only
phonetically, and although "Ysayos" is a bit wacky, it seems plausible.  In
many of the early 18th century documents I have seen "Iroquois" is spelled
"Yroquois" (or thereabouts).  Whether it is Isaac or Isaiah is for you to
find out and you are on the right track.

        Dan W.


At 02:55 PM 6/1/99 -0400, you wrote:
>I have a reference in a journal from the 1790s to a place called "Ysayos
Tavern", which made no sense to me.
>
>I have a reference in the same general geography to a man "Isaac" who had
a tavern.
>
>Since I would pronounce "Isaac" as "I-sack", I could not make a connection.
>
>Recently I heard someone pronounce an organization name which started with
"Isaac" as "I-say-alk" and suddenly the phonetic 18th century "Ysayos"
seemed not so far off.
>
>Does anyone have any insights on whether "Isaac" would be pronounced in
this manner in the late 18th century - or any other time for that matter?
>