In the sitcom ‘Newhart’ the previous line made sense, at least it did to the show’s characters. Today, the 1568 Will of my 11th great grandfather, Lawrence Day of Benenden, Kent holds a similar statement. Lawrence left property to his son ‘great John Day’ and also to his son ‘little’ John Day! Clearly, there were two men named ‘John Day’ and outwardly one would think such would create great and little confusion? Historically, we’ve no explanation for such an anomaly in the naming procedure. I suppose great John Day and little John Day made sense to them just like the actors in the Newhart sitcom.
