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I have an ancestor (female, caucasian)who lived in Arkansas and went by the name Chaney. This name is what is recorded on the gravestone she shares with her husband, and on a document, written by her brother, which he carried with him during his service in the Civil War. Family, census and marriage records indicate that her actual given name was Harriet and her nickname, Chaney, was either part of or based on her middle name. However, due to spelling variances, poor penmanship, and her name being given inconsistently in various records, I am uncertain what that middle name is exactly.

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Are any of you familiar with Chaney? Are you aware of a full name for which it was commonly used as a diminutive in that time and place?

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I realize this is a long shot, but there are very few surviving records to go on as the applicable courthouses in the area, to which all of the old documents were gathered up and deposited, have burned down...one of them three times. One would think our government officials would learn stop gathering all of our historical documents into one conveniently-flammable location. Sigh...

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Thanks, in advance, for any advice. :)