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Family History Documents and Artefacts => FH Documents and Artefacts => Topic started by: Newfloridian on Friday 10 November 17 13:45 GMT (UK)

Title: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: Newfloridian on Friday 10 November 17 13:45 GMT (UK)
Currently browsing the handwritten baprism records for Great Easton (Easton Magna), Leicestershire. On a number of entries, there is a large capital V on either side of the detail. On a few other entries there isa single capital P to the left of the detail. I can imagine the "P" could stand for private, but any thoughts what the "V" might be for?

Example:

1796
V Sharman, Mary D of John by Ann
bapd March 13th - born March 8th  V

Thanks
Alan   
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: ..claire.. on Friday 10 November 17 14:06 GMT (UK)
Looking back through a couple of pages the 'V' seems to have been written by the end/start of a year.

Not sure what it stands for though :-\
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: Newfloridian on Friday 10 November 17 14:41 GMT (UK)
Since posting, I've noticed the same abbreviations applied to certain marriage and burial records. They aren't related to beginning or end of year. Here is a marriage dated December 7th 1806!
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: ..claire.. on Friday 10 November 17 15:04 GMT (UK)
It is also the last marriage that took place in 1806. The page prior to that in the register has a letter 'V' next to the marriage in June 1805 of a John Lambert. Which was the last marriage of the year.

The next marriage occurs in March 1806

 :)
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: Maiden Stone on Friday 10 November 17 19:20 GMT (UK)
 Curates submitted annual returns of baptisms, marriages and burials to the diocese authority (Bishop's Transcripts). The V may have been a mark to remind the curate in charge of that parish which was the last entry in the previous year's list. There was a similar question on here during the past fortnight, I think.
As to end of year, until mid 18th century the ecclesiastical year began at the end of March. 
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: JohninSussex on Saturday 11 November 17 11:11 GMT (UK)
Curates submitted annual returns of baptisms, marriages and burials to the diocese authority (Bishop's Transcripts). 
Sometimes referred to loosely as a Visitation.
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: Maiden Stone on Saturday 11 November 17 19:51 GMT (UK)
For more information on Bishops' Transcripts see:
Discovering English Ancestors
dea.byu.edu/index.php?page=bishopstranscripts

New to archdeacons' and bishops' transcripts? A guide to archdeacons' and bishops' transcripts held at Kent ...
https://www.kent.gov.uk_data/assets/pdf_file/0017/16244/New-to-archdeacons-and-bishops-transcripts.pdf

The page on Bishops' Transcripts on the National Archives website says that clergy had to submit annual returns within a month of Easter.

Edit. Links don't work but sites can be found by googliing. Discovering English Ancestors looks like a useful guide to many aspects of FH research.
Title: Re: Abbreviations in 18th century Parish baptism records
Post by: Newfloridian on Saturday 11 November 17 19:59 GMT (UK)
Visitation sounds a reasonable explanation for the "V"