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Archiver > NORFOLK > 2008-06 > 1212834363


From: <>
Subject: Re: [NFK] Alexander - a conundrum!
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2008 11:26:03 +0100
References: <E6AFDDA362474A2FB6F55A3549798363@VickiPC>
In-Reply-To: <E6AFDDA362474A2FB6F55A3549798363@VickiPC>


Vicki

I have come across instances of individuals being baptised twice in
different parishes like this. The possible explanations are

(1) that the child was born in Topcroft, and privately baptised there soon
after birth. The family subsequently moved to Wenhaston, where the vicar
would have wanted to publicly baptise or receive the child before it was
allowed to join the congregation. You might be able to prove this by
ordering copies of the original register entries from the respective Record
Offices, as these may distinguish between public and private baptisms.

(2) that the mother lodged with family in Topcroft while having her first
child, before going on to join her husband at Wenhaston. The child may have
been privately baptised before the journey for fear it might not survive.

What you probably have here, by good luck, is the timing of the move, which
most likely happened between 23 Sep and 30 Dec.

I had a family line that moved from Trowse to Westleton and Dunwich and back
in the 18th/early 19thC, presumably drawn by an employment opportunity -
fishing, perhaps?

David


-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On
Behalf Of Mrs V Atkinson
Sent: 07 June 2008 10:47
To:
Cc:
Subject: [NFK] Alexander - a conundrum!

My ALEXANDER line has hit the wall at JAMES born c1791. he lived in
Westleton in Suffolk from at least 1816 until his death after 1861.

On the 41 census there was N for born in County, on the 51 his birthplace
was given as Ceadon, Norfolk. On the 61 it was Seaton - the only place that
comes close if one is thinking in dialect is Seething.

As I cannot get to Norwich I have done what I can to find him on the
internet, someone with an interest in this family has given a possible
parentage of JOHN and SARAH WEBB.

I found a John Alexander & Sarah Webb having a family christened in nearby
Wenhaston with a John being baptised 30 December 1792, but it could not be
my John as this is Suffolk BUT on looking at the Norfolk FreeReg site I
found 23 September 1792 son of John and Sarah Webb in the TOPCROFT register.
But Topcroft is nothing like Seaton - So, my problem is - is this just a
fluke? could there be 2 John Alexanders marrying 2 Sarah Webbs at the same
time? Did they move to Wenhaston and have the child baptised again to
establish themselves there?

There is one other thing to note about the baptism in Wenhaston - only the
date is given - for all the later children the birthdate is given as well.

I would be grateful for any lead on this puzzle!

Vicki Atkinson

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