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Archiver > ESSEX-UK > 2004-02 > 1075715929


From: Adrian Gray <>
Subject: Re: Burial register abbvns, thanks
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 09:58:49 +0000 (GMT)


In message <005401c3e89e$46a06760$> "pattisalter" <> writes:
> Hi Angela
> I think you are right there, I've been checking parish registers myself
> and found with all the ancestors that I know died in infancy, they were all
> baptised privately.
> Patti

According to the Book of Common Prayer (a surprisingly handy source, though
I've yet to get my own and have to borrow one at bells practice), private
baptisms were carried out when a child was not expected to live. Midwives
often carried out baptisms (I believe they are still licensed to do so - can
anyone confirm/refute this?) and even carried syringes for carrying out baptism
"in utero".

If "bp" does stand for "baptised privately" you should find the same child reappearing sooner or later (because not all of them died - in fact in one
side of my family they seem to have taken great delight in scaring the parents)
either as a baptism, or if you are really lucky "received into the church".

Hope this helps,

Adrian

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