Could the record be wrong?

[Brentor boy]

Thanks to all for your thoughts and suggestions. I think the consensus is that there is a distinct possibility that the record is in error, either as a result of inaccurate recording or re-recording or, as Iolaus suggests, confusion about the child's sex.

I am going to assume, as a working hypothesis, that Frances and Francis were one and the same person unless, or until, I can find evidence of where Francis came from or Frances went to. The entry will be endorsed "probable".