Is this an adult baptism?

[JAKnighton]

I've found this baptism for a James Knighton in Polebrook, Northamptonshire on December 25, 1777.

I'm not sure of the wording, but it appears to be "James Knighton, a person/farmer*? come to Mark Estates Dec 25th".

What does this mean?

On December 28th, a James Knighton married a Sarah Slater/Slatcher.

Is this an adult baptism in order to be married in the parish?

*Is there a possibility that the word is Quaker, which would fit in with my theory of Knighton baptism/marriages in this time period?

[Raybistre]

Hi, think it reads:

James Knighton a Person come to Man's Estate Decbr 25th

Exactly what it means I'm not sure
Ray

[alpinecottage]

Is it an entry into the baptismal register which, if written in full, would read;
 
James Knighton, (a) person (who) came to Mark Estates on 25th December

ie it's an adult who came to the Estates and was baptised immediately prior to his marriage.

[stanmapstone]

man's estate = manhood i.e. the adult state of man, as opposed to childhood, so he was 21 years old.
The Book of Common Prayer, has this comment: "It is convenient that the new-married persons should receive the holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage." You had to be baptised to receive Communion, so this is why, sometimes, people got baptised before their wedding.

Stan

[JAKnighton]

Thanks everyone, this seems to be confirming one of my theories about this family. A long standing brick wall may be coming down soon.

[Andrew Tarr]

Hi, think it reads:

James Knighton a Person come to Man's Estate Decbr 25th

Why can it not read 'a Parson' - that might make sense?

[Billyblue]

Hi, think it reads:

James Knighton a Person come to Man's Estate Decbr 25th

Why can it not read 'a Parson' - that might make sense?

The letter after P does not look like all the other a letters in the sentence, so unlikely it would be Parson. 
Dawn M

[arthurk]

Why can it not read 'a Parson' - that might make sense?

The letter after P does not look like all the other a letters in the sentence, so unlikely it would be Parson. 
Dawn M

'Person' and 'parson' are derived from the same Latin root, but have diverged in spelling, pronunciation and meaning. My wife once came across a 16th century burial of "Mr Bancroft Person", but it was clear from other sources that he was Mr Bancroft, the Parson.

In this case, however, it is impossible that a parson would be being baptised. He couldn't have been ordained unless he had been baptised, and the Church of England's teaching is that the sacrament of baptism can be administered only once.

[Andrew Tarr]

Hi, think it reads:

James Knighton a Person come to Man's Estate Decbr 25th

Having had another look, I agree fully with this.  Is it an oblique reference to an attainment of majority on Christmas Day, very symbolic for a birth at the time I guess?  Marriage soon afterwards?