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Archiver > NORFOLK > 2008-06 > 1212843595


From: "Rob Malham" <>
Subject: Re: [NFK] Alexander - a conundrum!
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:59:55 +0100
References: <E6AFDDA362474A2FB6F55A3549798363@VickiPC>
In-Reply-To: <BC12459E56DB4A4D9F0F5530EB322DB8@DAVID>


On 7 Jun 2008 at 11:26, wrote:

> 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.>

It is probably not relevant in this case but you can sometimes come across examples of
multiple baptisms in gipsy families.

Some vicars, always keen to show they were doing their bit when the archdeacon came
round on his annual visitation, would offer "bribes" to gipsy couples in the form of money,
food, clothing for the children, etc. to have their children baptised if they were passing
through the parish. Gipsies weren't daft and quickly cottoned onto this.

There are numerous cases of multiple baptisms in gipsy families and Sharon Sillers
Floate says in her book "My Ancestors Were Gipsies" (pub. by the SoG) that the record
was held by one couple who had their daughters baptised something like 160 times in
parishes between Devon and Yorkshire!

Rob

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