Author Topic: Meaning of Infant  (Read 959 times)

Offline Hattlebags

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Meaning of Infant
« on: Monday 24 February 20 17:26 GMT (UK) »
Hi, I am new to researching Parish Records.  I am looking at Burial records for the 16th Century. The age of the person is not given, but there are 3 types of entry, as follows :
Date, John Smith of Placename
Date, John Smith of Placename, Infant
Date, John Smith of Placename, Child and Infant
I assume the John Smith means he was an Adult. But when does an "Infant" become an Adult? And when is an Infant also a Child ? Is someone an Infant right up to the age of Majority and, if so, is that 18 or 21 ?  Is a "Child" a young "Infant" ?
Any hep with this would be very gratefully received. Thanks.

Offline conahy calling

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #1 on: Monday 24 February 20 18:15 GMT (UK) »
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=810605.0

Link to a previous thread about age of an infant.

Welcome to Rootschat Hattlebags.

Offline Hattlebags

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #2 on: Monday 24 February 20 18:25 GMT (UK) »
Thanks, that earlier thread seems to be saying that someone is legally an Infant up to the age of 21.  But Parish Registers dont appear to use that definition, but have some other much younger age range in mind. So as a result does the use of the term "Infant" in a Parish Register from the 16th Century rule out that person being a Teenager ? 

Offline Rena

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #3 on: Monday 24 February 20 21:07 GMT (UK) »
There was no such thing as a teenager when I entered my teenage years early 1950s.  I particularly remember that there were clothes in the stores for babies/infants/girls/boys and clothes for ladies/gentlemen.  I used my mother's sewing machine to make my own "teenage" years clothing because I was too skinny for standard shop bought items of clothing.

I went to an "infant school" from aged five to seven years old.  Junior school from age 8 to 10 years old and
senior school from 11 to 15-16 years old.

I reached my majority on my 21st birthday, when, according to an old song,  I should have received "the key to the door" but never did.
Aberdeen: Findlay-Shirras,McCarthy: MidLothian: Mason,Telford,Darling,Cruikshanks,Bennett,Sime, Bell: Lanarks:Crum, Brown, MacKenzie,Cameron, Glen, Millar; Ross: Urray:Mackenzie:  Moray: Findlay; Marshall/Marischell: Perthshire: Brown Ferguson: Wales: McCarthy, Thomas: England: Almond, Askin, Dodson, Well(es). Harrison, Maw, McCarthy, Munford, Pye, Shearing, Smith, Smythe, Speight, Strike, Wallis/Wallace, Ward, Wells;Germany: Flamme,Ehlers, Bielstein, Germer, Mohlm, Reupke


Offline mazi

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #4 on: Monday 24 February 20 21:24 GMT (UK) »
Wiki tells me that in the 16th century it was the custom to dress boys and girls alike until about the age of five, when the boys were “breeched” and dressed in trousers and girls dressed as little ladies.

I think they ceased to be infants then in the eyes of the church and were children until they were confirmed in the faith and able to make commitments for themselves, usually about 12-14 years.

Mike

Offline Hattlebags

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #5 on: Monday 24 February 20 21:46 GMT (UK) »
Thanks all.  The "problem" I have is that in the Parish Register the death in 1566 is shown as John Smith, Infant.  Yet I have a contemporary account of that death as being the murder of a working man by a Mob.  So either the story was made up, or the "Man" in question is a Teenager and the Register refers to him as being an "infant", or it was simply a mistake on the part of the Parish Clerk.

Online Viktoria

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #6 on: Monday 24 February 20 23:46 GMT (UK) »
Me too Rena,we were children or adults and of no real importance, one minute you were too young the next you were too old .
Nothing in between as far as clothes and allowed behaviour.
But to call an older child an infant seems unusual.
But it  obviously  happened.
Interesting point.
Viktoria.

Offline Rena

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #7 on: Monday 24 February 20 23:49 GMT (UK) »
Wiki tells me that in the 16th century it was the custom to dress boys and girls alike until about the age of five, when the boys were “breeched” and dressed in trousers and girls dressed as little ladies.

I think they ceased to be infants then in the eyes of the church and were children until they were confirmed in the faith and able to make commitments for themselves, usually about 12-14 years.

Mike

You've reminded me of my favourite teacher in the late 1940s, an ex WwII naval man who used to regale us with the times his ship(s) sank underneath him.

As promised he brought in a photograph of him aged two.  We youngsters couldn't stop giggling at the sight of him wearing a dress, with a ribbon in his hair keeping his long ringlets neatly in place.   The only way you could tell it was a boy was that his hair was parted at the "boys side".
Aberdeen: Findlay-Shirras,McCarthy: MidLothian: Mason,Telford,Darling,Cruikshanks,Bennett,Sime, Bell: Lanarks:Crum, Brown, MacKenzie,Cameron, Glen, Millar; Ross: Urray:Mackenzie:  Moray: Findlay; Marshall/Marischell: Perthshire: Brown Ferguson: Wales: McCarthy, Thomas: England: Almond, Askin, Dodson, Well(es). Harrison, Maw, McCarthy, Munford, Pye, Shearing, Smith, Smythe, Speight, Strike, Wallis/Wallace, Ward, Wells;Germany: Flamme,Ehlers, Bielstein, Germer, Mohlm, Reupke

Offline chempat

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Re: Meaning of Infant
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 25 February 20 08:03 GMT (UK) »
This is from a study on child and infant mortality in 2013, not directly relevant to 16th century, but have not found a strict definition for then

'In demography, child mortality refers to the death of children under the age of five while infant mortality refers to the death of those under the age of one'