Author Topic: How long from birth to being baptised?  (Read 4747 times)

Offline PaulThommo

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How long from birth to being baptised?
« on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:03 BST (UK) »
My GG Grandfather according to census was born in 1804. The 1841 census is blank to his birth place, 1851 census states that he was born in Yorkshire, 1861 and 1871 census has his birth place as Stokesley, Yorkshire, while the 1881 census has him as South Shields, Durham, he died in 1883.
At the moment I can't find any details on his marriage to Margery Jefferson who was born in South Shields in 1804. The couple have lived in the Jarrow/South Shields area from the 1841 census onwards. Finally to the question!!!! Family Search has only one record for a Robert Thompson born in Stokesley and that the christening date was 11 April 1810 (no birth date). Is it possible that a person can be christened 6 years after birth? If a person is not christened will there be a record of their birth anywhere? I was unable to find anything on Find my Past. Any help would be appreciated. Many thanks, Paul Thompson
Thompson - Stokesley, Great Ayton, Little Ayton &  Easby Nth Yorkshire. Westoe, South Shields, Gateshead
Dobson - Westoe & South Shields
Jefferson - South Shields
Rippon - Jarrow & South Shields
Purves & Harvey - South Shields

Offline groom

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:23 BST (UK) »
There is no hard and fast rule as to when a child was baptised or christened. Usually it was within weeks of the birth, but I've found several who were baptised quite a few years after their birth. Sometimes the children in a family were done all at one go from a baby up to children of 10 or 12. I've even found a couple who were baptised just before they married.

Unfortunately before official registration was introduced in 1837, if they weren't baptised I doubt if there will be any other record of their birth.
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline JOHN.MARSH

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:26 BST (UK) »
when mum and baby are happy at home with in two to four weeks

Offline PaulThommo

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:31 BST (UK) »
Thank you for such a quick response. To John.Marsh, I happen to be writing up as you replied about my Marsh side of the family, they came from the Bolton, Lancashire area
Thompson - Stokesley, Great Ayton, Little Ayton &  Easby Nth Yorkshire. Westoe, South Shields, Gateshead
Dobson - Westoe & South Shields
Jefferson - South Shields
Rippon - Jarrow & South Shields
Purves & Harvey - South Shields


Offline Pheno

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:33 BST (UK) »
and don't assume the same scenario for all same family members...    I have eldest son baptised at age 18 but his two younger siblings both baptised within six months of their birth (ancestors not my own!)

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Offline Ringrose

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:35 BST (UK) »
When the Noerthsmptonshire records came out I found my g grandmother had been baptised at the age of 17 with three younger siblings.
Ringrose
Mann Ringrose Prior( West London)Prior (Halstead Colchester and Sudbury)Ringrose (Northants) Clark(sussex  Bath)Light(Shropshire West London)Barber(Northants)Gaudern (Northants)Piper(Suffolk)Carter (Essex)Nightingale,Stiles,Dunk,Hedgecock(Kent)Mann(south Devon )Le Cronier,Le Quesne,Poingdestre,Esnouf,Le Guyt,Anley.Le Carteret(Jersey)Clark(Bath,Batcombe,and Nyland )
er(essex)Nightingale(kent Sussex)Sutton (sussex)

Offline groom

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:42 BST (UK) »
Have you looked to see if he was the only Thompson christened on that date? As suggested you may find he was christened at the same time as his siblings.
Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline *Sandra*

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 04 June 16 13:53 BST (UK) »
There is no hard and fast rule as to when a child was baptised or christened. Catholics placed great importance on baptism, as soon after birth as possible. There was a thread in 2005 - Age of child to be baptised in early 1800's? which will give you more opinions - always interesting to read.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=60903.9

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Census information is Crown Copyright  http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

British Census copyright The National Archives; Canadian Census copyright Library and Archives Canada

Offline PaulThommo

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Re: How long from birth to being baptised?
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 04 June 16 14:02 BST (UK) »
Have you looked to see if he was the only Thompson christened on that date? As suggested you may find he was christened at the same time as his siblings.
Thanks but checked, only Thompson christened that day.
Thompson - Stokesley, Great Ayton, Little Ayton &  Easby Nth Yorkshire. Westoe, South Shields, Gateshead
Dobson - Westoe & South Shields
Jefferson - South Shields
Rippon - Jarrow & South Shields
Purves & Harvey - South Shields