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Baptism Question

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 15:02
by erika
Just wondered if anyone has any ideas re multiple baptisms?

I have just found on Family Search a name I am researching and all the children have been baptised on the same day. I know this happens regularly, but I found this lot quite odd mainly because of age range.
The eldest of these children was born in 1802 and the youngest born in 1816. They were all baptised in 1825 :roll:
Was this a common occurrence or were my lot just different :wink:
Maybe the sea air, they took place in Lytham :D

Re: Baptism Question

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 16:56
by MaryA
Might they have moved? I have a family who came to Liverpool from London about the middle of the 1840's. Four children were born and baptised in London, two of which died. The following two were born well before moving north, in 1838 and 1840, yet their baptisms, both together were in 1849 in Liverpool when one child was 11 and the other 8.

Sometimes it is perhaps when a crisis might be imminent and the children baptised into the Parish so that they would qualify for parish relief if it was needed.

Re: Baptism Question

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 17:56
by erika
Thanks Mary for your thoughts.
Not sure about this family yet and where they came from. Before searching I only had one name which I had in my tree and then found all the siblings, the total for these baptisms was 8!

Bit more digging required I think, but just found the amount baptised at once rather unusual.

Re: Baptism Question

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 23:28
by daggers
It has been said that the arrival of a new vicar or rector in a neglected parish might result in a rush of baptisms, or a vicar might send a curate or two (those were the days!) to rally the families as a way of keeping them busy. Study of the officiants' names in the register might reveal something.
D