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Archiver > NHSTRAFF > 2002-07 > 1026120423


From: Magdalena Gorrell Guimaraens <>
Subject: Re: [NHSTRAFF] At Last! A Technically Correct Calendar Function
Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2002 10:27:03 +0100
References: <3D260802.5010808@earthlink.net>


«One thing I learned was that not all early baptisms in England were on a
Saturday following a birth (a somewhat popular notion.)»

Dear List,

Take it from one who is doing extensive research in Yorkshire, the above
statement about a popular notion is very, very true. In fact, one very, very
rarely comes across baptisms on a Saturday following a birth.

In rural areas, parents would sometimes wait several years and then have a batch
christening of several children. Most christenings I have encountered are
usually a month or two after a birth.

The moral of the story is that if you are researching IGI records for England,
remember that these are transcripts of parish records or bishop's transcripts
and only refer to Baptisms, NOT births. Any date you get from the IGI will have
to be checked against other documents as the year itself could be considerably
out.

While I am at it, a word of warning for UK Census records. You cannot take the
ages given as always accurate. Many people didn't know how to read or write and
were uncertain of their births, others, especially women tended to indicate they
were younger than they actually were, some census enumerators just rounded off
the ages to the closest 5 years. One census, in fact, I think it was the 1841
census, did this regularly. Comparison of several censuses is useful.

While we are at it, a bit of useful information. Written records, of sorts,
only became regular in 1538 when Thomas Cromwell (NOT Oliver Cromwell) decreed
that parish records had to be kept. It was not until 1837 that this became
compulsory under law. For BMD dates after 1837, you should search the
. These are ongoing transcriptions of all Birth, Marriage
and Death records for the UK.

Happy hunting!

Magdalena

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