"You once asked me where the name Odber came from in connection with the Carman family. I recently found the answer in my great-grandfather William Odber Raymonds journal (this account is incomplete, as the person who copied it left out a page but I will find it and finish the story for you!):

Notes on origin of the Name Odber

I received my second name from my mothers [Mary Elizabeth Carman 1825-1893] brother, Uncle Odber Mile Carman. It was passed down to my Uncle from his Uncle by marriage, Colonel Thomas Odber Miles. But it appears in Rev. John Beardsleys register of baptisms in Maugerville that the full name by which Col. Miles was baptized was Thomas Treadway Odber.  A short story will be necessary here.

St. John, the City of the Loyalists, was incorporated in 1785, with its Mayor and Common Council, more than half a century before there was another city in British America. This was followed, or was concurrent with, the establishment of a number of business houses at St. John. Among them was the firm of Hall, Lewis, Odber & Co. Their advertisement appears in the old newspapers as early at least as 1786. Some accounts of the firm, beautifully kept by Mr. Odber, are among my old manuscripts lately placed in the Dominion Archives in Ottawa. A reference to the firm will be found in the published Winslow Papers, page 335, under date Nov., 1786. The firm had, I think, a branch of their business in Fredericton, and it appears that Colonel Edward Winslow sent letters by Mr. Odber to his friend Mather Byles, Jr., in St. John. Mr. Odber was I suppose the Junior partner of the firm and perhaps it chief manager. He was probably by birth an Englishman and a man of ability and influence in the community. His full name was Thomas Treadway Odber and my recollection is  that I have seen his signature in his own writing. He must have been a friend, possibly a relative, of Captain Elijah Miles, who was a half-pay officer of Col. Ludlows Battalion of DeLanceys Brigade.

Rather a long story for a middle name!

 

As I think I may have told you before William Odber Raymonds son was William Ober (with no d) Raymond a quirk of his wifes (she did not like the name Odber! confusing to a genealogist unless you know the story!).