Walter Robert Leigh or Packman - Brecon

[Deirdre784]

Thanks Roger,

Found the baptism records for all but the youngest child, born after Walter's death. Walter's mum died only 3 months after his birth leaving dad with 4 children under 5 so not surprising he wasn't baptised as a baby/child. I guess Walter discovered that he hadn't been baptised (though he and Mary Ann had been married in the register office with eldest son Walter junior already on the way) so decided to be baptised as an adult.   
 
It just seems bizarre to register all but 1 child as Leigh, have them all baptised as Leigh (inc the one born in Llandygwydd as Packman) giving the address as The Struet yet appear as Packman in 2 censuses (1881 and 1891). Also seems strange that if Walter was hiding, maybe from the army, that they were still living only a stone's throw away from the barracks.   

Not sure what we hope to find in the library or archives but seems worth a try (and a pleasant day out). 

[alltcafan]

Dear Deirdre,
The following information is as seen (but I have put some notes in square brackets)
The following were baptised in St Mary's Ward,  Brecon. 
The Parents were shown as Walter Robert and Mary Ann(e) LEIGH - home address 27 The Struet, Brecon.    Walter Robert's occupation was shown as being Groom.

Name                            date of birth        date of Baptism
Walter Robert LEIGH      22 MAR 1877       12 JUN 1882
John Richard LEIGH        12 DEC 1879       28 JUN 1882
Thomas Henry LEIGH      31 DEC 1881       28 JUN 1882 [actually born 31 DEC 1880 NOT 1881]
Frederick Joseph LEIGH   28 FEB 1882       12 JUN 1882  [died age 1 in 1883]
Mary Elizabeth LEIGH      17 JUL 1883        31 OCT 1883
Albert James LEIGH         02 APR 1889      28 OCT 1891 [Walter Robert father shown as deceased]

Also at the same church there was baptism for
Walter Robert LEIGH     born in 1845     Baptised as an adult on 28 JAN 1884 
address 27 The Struet, Brecon   (parents named as Richard (an Engineer) and Anne LEIGH)
Witnesses of the baptism :  Emma Packer and E. Kinsey.

Hope the above helps a little.
Regards, Alltcafan 

[Deirdre784]

Hi Alltcafan, thanks for taking an interest and for looking these up.

Apologies but we already have this info, and another child, William Charles Lee, baptised 24 Nov 1886, with parents recorded as Walter Romand and Mary Ann Lee. Walter a coachman. Resident at 27 Struet. Birth was registered as Leigh.

It's why they were all listed as Packman in the censuses that's got our interest.

[Deirdre784]

I've just found the baptism for the youngest child, Frederick Joseph Lee, parents Walter Robert and Mary Ann of 27 Struet, Walter a groom.

Frederick Joseph was born on 30 Jan 1892, and baptised privately at St John the Evangelist on 4 Feb. Registered as Frederick Joseph Leigh, he died in the same quarter (not buried at the church though).

Looks like another addition to the puzzle as (a) Walter had died in Aberfan of pneumonia almost 8 months previously (b) all the other baptisms were at St Mary's, Brecon even though they were still living at The Struet, (c) Walter was listed as the father and a groom, even though he couldn't have been there and (d) the private baptism - wouldn't it have cost more, maybe they were hiding - though maybe FJ was ill and had to be baptised in a hurry.

Given that the children were all baptised, as was Walter as an adult, it seems strange to me that the 2 children who died while they were living at the Struet, weren't buried in the church too. And still not found Walter's burial. 

[osprey]

a private baptism doesn't mean it is paid for, it means one not in the church. It would suggest he wasn't expected to survive and so baptised at home. When a child who has been privately baptised is later brought to the church, you should find a note of a public baptism.

Baptism is free, although at times there have been charges for the entry in the parish register.

I don't think the mention of a father's name & occupation on the baptism entry means the father was there. I've come across baptisms where from the father's address he couldn't have been present - child baptised in Cornwall, father's abode Montana.

 

[Deirdre784]

Thanks Osprey, I'd assumed you paid to have a child baptised, thought that was why some families who couldn't afford baptism for the early children, often had a number of them baptised together at a later date. Hadn't realised 'private' meant at home either (I've found a few Catholic ones where it says something on the lines of 'baptised at home in case of death').

Guess we're being caught up with the puzzles of the Leigh/Packman saga and making 2+2 equal 5! We'd even been wondering if Walter really had died in June 1891 (25 miles away from Brecon, no connection on the death cert to his wife or family, no burial found, no record found for his wife's 2nd marriage in 1894, child born in 1895 called Arthur Godfrey LEIGH Jones...). Might be interesting to get the birth or death cert for the baby to see if registered by Mary Ann (or Walter?!). 

[osprey]

in the anglican church, the usual way was for children to be baptised after the morning service on a Sunday or a holy day, sometimes after the evening service. That way the child was welcomed into the congregation. 

http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/book-of-common-prayer/private-baptism-of-infants.aspx

Given the 1891 death, he could be buried in a municipal cemetery rather than a churchyard.

[Deirdre784]

Thanks for the link Osprey.

Waiting (hoping) to hear from Powys if he's buried in Brecon; he's not in any of the cemeteries in Merthyr CBC area.

[Deirdre784]

Just had a reply from Powys and Walter (Leigh) is buried there; and it gives his place of death as Aberfan so it's the same person. One bit of the puzzle solved.