Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

[Rector Wrote Last After Birth Date]
I've seen this a few times, does anyone know what it means?

After posting on FB, I thought maybe it ment last rights, but I thought that was only for Catholics. It's CoE baptisms i've seen it on.

Is it written, for example,

13 February, Last or 13 February 2018, Last.

If it's the former, I would take that as being the 13 Feb during the baptism year or previous year depending on baptism date.
No idea what it could be for the latter.

Can you give us an example so that we can look at the original?

I haven't got to Warrington yet to get copys, this is from Lancashire OPC, and is on a lot of the kids from this family.

Baptism: 7 Feb 1858 Christ Church, Croft, Lancashire, England
Elizabeth Thompson - Daur of William Thompson & Catherine
Born: 6 Jan 1858
Abode: Croft
Occupation: Labourer
Notes: [Rector Wrote Last After Birth Date]
Baptised by: Thos P Kirkman Rector
Register: Baptisms 1833 - 1905, Page 81, Entry 645
Source: LDS Film 2068610

Baptism: 7 Feb 1858 Christ Church, Croft, Lancashire, England
Margt Thompson - Daur of William Thompson & Catherine
Born: 6 Jan 1858
Abode: Croft
Occupation: Labourer
Notes: Privy [Rector Wrote Last After Birth Date]
Baptised by: Thos P Kirkman Rector
Register: Baptisms 1833 - 1905, Page 81, Entry 644
Source: LDS Film 2068610
(Margt is Mary on the GRO site)
Both lived till at least 3 years old, Elizabeth died sometime after that.

I think the rector just wrote "last" so referring to the month?

If you look through the baptisms for Christ Church, Croft. It appears Thomas P Kirkman enters "Last" after the birth date providing it was the last date, D/M/Y prior to the baptism, regardless of how many months. He doesn't appear to add "Last" to births 2 years or more before baptism. No idea why he would need to do it if the birth date is complete and the Baptism date is recorded.

I haven't seen the original images for this register but I would think that the transcriber has made the very reasonable assumption that "January last" means the most recent January and has recorded a birth year accordingly, while making a note about the actual entry on the register.

That makes sense. Seems a bit strange to add when the year is there.
Thanks Bertieone, Mary and retiringtype.

The little boy next to the window is my grandad, James Meakin, with his brothers John (little one at the front), Herbert and George, with his parents, John (born Glasgow) and Ellen Meakin, nee Wood. Thompson is part of Ellens line.