Back in the Colonial era, a certain Martin Herr set out to Philadelphia without having paid his fare. He had no other family members, and he was afraid that he would have to serve time as a Redemptioner in order to pay for his travel.
During the voyage, he learned that the elderly uncle of one of his fellow travelers had decided at the last minute to remain in the Empire, but the uncle’s fare had been paid in advance. All Herr had to do was to assume the identity of the uncle in order to get off the ship as a free man.
Herr asked the man what the uncle’s name was, and the man replied, “Besereis Eberhart Diefenderfer.” Herr kept repeating the name, which he found to be rather complicated, to himself, trying to memorize it.
When the ship arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Herr was the last man to depart. He was met by a British officer who, naturally, asked him for his name.
Herr became flustered and could not remember the name that he’d been trying so hard to memorize. He just wanted a moment to think. He muttered aloud, “Scheen vergessen…”
The British officer handed him a paper and quickly replied, “We don’t have a record for you, so you will have to get back on board the ship until payment can be arranged. However, welcome to Philadelphia, Sean Ferguson!”
