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Author Topic: Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH  (Read 2877 times)

Offline Petros

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Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH
« on: Wednesday 11 March 15 17:07 GMT (UK) »
My ancestor James SMITH died in Bedford 17 Jan 1845, married in Kempston 1810, lived in Eversholt ca 1813 to 1838 and moved to Bedford by June 1841

Since his eldest 5 children were baptised at Westoning Baptist Chapel between 1813 and 1818 I assume that James (and his wife Ann CHARLTON) were non-conformists.

How many non-conformist chapels were there in Bedfordshire in the 1780s?

I can locate one possible baptism for James at Bedford Old Meeting House Independent
James born 29 April 1785 son of John & Elizabeth

Would this be a likely location if the family came from Eversholt?

Offline StevenG

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Re: Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 11 March 15 17:27 GMT (UK) »
You can see a list of what the Archives have here
 http://www.bedfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/ArchivesAndRecordOffice/FamilyHistory/Non-AnglicanRegisters.aspx

I don't know a way of finding out which registers don't survive.
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline Craclyn

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Re: Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 11 March 15 18:00 GMT (UK) »
You may be able to get some ideas by looking at genuki.org.uk for Bedford. They have a list of 8 non-conformist churches in Bedford with dates they opened.
Crackett, Cracket, Webb, Turner, Henderson, Murray, Carr, Stavers, Thornton, Oliver, Davis, Hall, Anderson, Atknin, Austin, Bainbridge, Beach, Bullman, Charlton, Chator, Corbett, Corsall, Coxon, Davis, Dinnin, Dow, Farside, Fitton, Garden, Geddes, Gowans, Harmsworth, Hedderweek, Heron, Hedley, Hunter, Ironside, Jameson, Johnson, Laidler, Leck, Mason, Miller, Milne, Nesbitt, Newton, Parkinson, Piery, Prudow, Reay, Reed, Read, Reid, Robinson, Ruddiman, Smith, Tait, Thompson, Watson, Wilson, Youn

Offline bedfordshire boy

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Re: Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 11 March 15 18:27 GMT (UK) »
Baptists didn't perform infant baptisms. Are you sure they were baptisms between 1813-18? Sounds as though their births may have been recorded in the church book.
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Beds:   Cople: Luke/Spencer
            Everton: Hale
            Henlow: Cooper/Watts/Sabey/Rook
            Potton:  Merrill
            Southill: Faulkner/Litchfield/Sabey/Rook
            Woburn/Husborne Crawley: Surkitt
Hunts:   Gt Gransden: Merrill/Chandler/Medlock
            Toseland: Surkitt/Hedge/Corn         
Cambs: Bourn: Bowd
            Eltisley: Medlock
            Graveley: Ford/Revell

Offline Petros

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Re: Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 11 March 15 18:41 GMT (UK) »
David

The 5 entries are consecutive and undated. The time frame was deduced from the minister's name and when he was at Westoning, which accords with their ages from the 1841 & 1851 census

Offline Lalee

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Re: Non conformist baptisms 1780s - SMITH
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 18 March 15 00:49 GMT (UK) »
This is my first post so please forgive me if this ends up in the wrong place.
It would be unusual to baptize infants although occasionally whole families might be done together if they are all old enough to make a statement of faith. That would at least mean they should be old  enough to talk and have a basic understanding of what they are saying. The more usual thing would be a dedication. Not so very different from a christening but no water involved and then baptism as an adult with buckets of it!
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