Multiple Christenings for same children
In researching a family in Derbyshire, England I found a Christening record for two children in a family, then for the third child I found that the previous siblings were christened again with the third child. This all happened within the same parish church of Newhall. The family did not move. I understand this could happen if a family moved and they wanted to establish themselves in a the new parish or if the previous christening was in question. But the children were all christened in the same church within pages of each other. I do not suspect multiple children with the same names as previous christening dates fall within the expected time, 1856, 1858 and 1860. The 1861 census lists these children with the exception of the first son who died.
Does anyone know why a family would Christen their children twice at the same church?
Antworten
-
I, too, have raised this question and been told this would not have been an accepted practice. However, I have come across similar cases, so it does seem quite possible to have had a child baptised again, along with siblings, even in the same church. In the case of Norfolk parish records, it appears quite common for a child to have been baptised immediately after birth, then again after several months. However, in these cases it is usually made clear that the first instance was a "private baptism" (probably in the parents' home) and the second performed "publicly" - i.e., definitely within the church itself, when the child would be subject to the full, public ceremony. As you say, it is more common to find any second baptism to be in another church (perhaps still C.of E., but sometimes non-conformist, of course). It seems surprising the vicar would allow for a second baptism (if both took place within the same parish church confines), but I don't think you can rule out that's exactly what could have happened.
2 -
Two "full" baptisms in the Church of England for the same child shouldn't happen - my interpretation of the nominal prohibition is that the fear on the second occasion, is that God says "I heard you the first time!"
My personal belief is that the usual explanation for what looks like two baptisms is that the first was a private baptism and the second is an acceptance into the congregation - this is covered in the relevant Order of Service. The usual expectation appears to be that the first baptism should be labelled as "Private" but I have seen extensive discussions in other places that directly contradict this rule of thumb. Some people say that the second baptism is marked "Private", implying that the meaning is that this is a follow-up to a private baptism.
Having said all that, there is also provision in the Order of Service for what might be described as "We're not sure whether he was baptised the first time so can you do something just in case?" But in that case, you'd expect the parish priest to look at his own register and check in there.
I notice that at Newhall (see Ancestry's Derbyshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1916 collection) the baptism of William Street on 15 July 1860 is annotated "This child had been previously baptised privately". The next two entries are annotated "PB" on the image - does that mean this entry was a private baptism or does it mean "This child had been previously baptised privately"? I can't tell without ploughing through more, and perhaps not even then.
I can only suggest that you check in the images for any annotations and abbreviations that might shed any light on the proceedings.
1 -
Thank you both for your kindness in taking time to help me understand this situation better. . I did wonder about the private baptism, but there are no notes in the margins on any of the baptisms indicating a possible private baptism. I did look up the suggested baptism of William Street and it was the same record I was looking where I found my family.
I also consulted the book Ancestral Trails but it only noted that private baptisms should have been noted in the margins, but this was not always the case.
1