All Births registered??

[theboxroom]

Can anybody put me out of my misery, please. I am back to 1791 with Philip Pickles (Pickels) and possibly 1767 with James Pickle(s), his father, who both "say?" they were born at (Little) Bolton. I suspect they may have been around Shelf, near Halifax. But - I can find very little as regards either of them at either Bolton or Halifax. Banns, wedding & death for Philip, death for James
So, my question is - would all births in the mid to late 1700s have to be registered? Could it be that James may be another name at birth, e.g. John, Jack etc?
Any help gratefully appreciated.   

[stanmapstone]

Civil Birth Registration did not start until 1st July 1837. Do you mean 'baptism'?

Stan

[rosie99]

Just linking earlier post on Philip Pickles 
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=787660.msg6430772#msg6430772

[lizdb]

Civil Registration started in 1837 - so no births were registered before that!

All you can hope for is a baptism record - IF they were baptised. Not everyone was. And sometimes not necessarily as a baby. Often "done" a few years later with younger siblings. And not necessarily in the same place where they were born, maybe mother went  to mum to have the baby and then had the christening at home, or had the baby at home but had the chr back at family Church.  Or, if non-conformist, then maybe as an adult as their own decision. 

[Thornwood]

Are you sure that you are looking at the right Bolton. There is a village in East Yorkshire with that name.
Just a thought.

[rosie99]

Are you sure that you are looking at the right Bolton. There is a village in East Yorkshire with that name.
Just a thought.

From the other post

Philip signed his marriage licence as Pickels - he was of the parish of Halifax occ Iron Moulder and a Bachelor.  Ellen Holmes of the parish of Bolton, Lancaster was a Widow

ADDED  A possible baptism has been found on the other post