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Archiver > LANCSGEN > 2012-04 > 1335266519


From: "Adrian Bruce" <>
Subject: Re: [LAN] Question on second baptism of illegitimate child
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:21:59 +0100
References: <DB123B5A-94CB-4A35-B2F5-46BF620F994B@sbcglobal.net>
In-Reply-To: <DB123B5A-94CB-4A35-B2F5-46BF620F994B@sbcglobal.net>


Children are certainly baptised multiple times but usually in different
churches / denominations. That it's the same church implies something a bit
more than the usual.

Assuming you are convinced that it's the same Alice all the way through, and
not her (theoretical) cousin of the same name, then it's as clear as
anything ever is that this is Alice's base son who's "baptised" twice.

It could indeed be that the first baptism was an emergency or private
baptism, with the second being a public reception into the community of the
church using whatever parts of the baptism service are appropriate. In
theory the private baptisms have a "P" by the side, so it might be worth
checking for that. The 2nd ceremony doesn't seem to be distinguished. I've
got a Cheshire instance in the 1850s, of a "P" baptism for a child, followed
a couple of years later by another entry in the baptism register - same
parish, albeit different chapel. (The child's parents were still not married
though).

What I don't think you can assume is that Adam is Edward's son. It might be
a good guess, but people are funny things.

I'm not convinced that baptism would create a legal record, though. Rather
it seems to be a public acknowledgment by Edward of Adam. Remember there's
no such thing as legally recognised adoption until the 20th century.

Adrian B



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