Two baptisms for John Edwards (Oystermouth, 1816&1823)

[SamuelF992]

Hi everyone

My ancestor John Edwards was born in Newton around 1817. I have found a baptism for a John Edward born to John Edward and Mary Morgan in Oystermouth in 1816, which I assume is his. However, there is also a baptism for John to parents John and Mary in Oystermouth in 1823. Were there reasons why someone would be baptised twice? The only other marriage I can find for a John Edwards and Mary is John and Mary Carter in Swansea in 1817, but this is for a parish in the centre of the town.

The main reason I want to clarify is there are a John and Mary Edwards in the 1861 Wales census who would fit the bill for John's parents. They have other children born in Oystermouth after John (Mary, William and Margaret), so I wanted to check this was all one family before making this link.

Best wishes
Samuel

[ScobieDrom]

Did the first John die?  It was common for a later child to be named the same as one who had died earlier. It may be worth looking for a death of the child born in 1816.

[SamuelF992]

Hi there,

I can't find a record of the first John dying before 1823, no.

[rosie99]

This death would fit the later baptism 

John Edwards
Age   21
Burial date 09 Dec 1844
All Saints,    Oystermouth, Glamorganshire

[osprey]

if this is the family you're looking at in 1851

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG8V-SP1

birth reg for Rachael Edwards jun qtr 1842 Swansea vol 26 pg 487 mmn Williams

possible marriage 17 Oct 1839 Oystermouth
John Edwards full age bachelor mason Norton father William Edwards mason
Mary Wilson full age widow cook Sketty father John Williams labourer
witnesses Robert Phillips & David Edwards

[SamuelF992]

Rosie - thank you! I just came across at that too. That's really frustrating as I feel like I can't be sure which John was baptised to Mary Morgan and if there was another John and Mary marriage that I can't see.

Osprey - thank you, that is the family. That's really funny as I hadn't seen this marriage and it complicates things further, as there is also a marriage at Oystermouth on 17th Nov between a John Edwards and Mary Williams. I don't really have any way of telling which Mary Williams is the correct one, do I?

Best wishes
Sam

[SamuelF992]

Looking at this more closely, I think I might be able to discount the John Edwards and Mary Wilson marriage actually. John is listed as a labourer in the 1841 and 51 censuses, and in the 17 Nov marriage, whereas the John in the Mary Wilson marriage is listed as a mason.

[osprey]

bother, hadn't spotted the other marriage.  Birth certs for the children should show which family is which. Births would show mother as formerly Williams for one, and formerly Williams late Wilson for the other. Rachael's birth is a less common first name.

Although I think the one with the John as father looks more likely.

1841 census Notage Lane HO107/1424/23 folio 20 pg 4
John Edwards 50 ag lab
Mary 49
Mary junr. 19
William 15
Ann 13
Sarah 11
Margaret 7
/
Ann 79
all born in county

1861 Nottage RG9/4108 folio 34 pg 9
John Edwards head mar 70 farmer of 20 acres
Mary wife 67
Mary dau 38
William son 35
Margaret dau 27
all born Oystermouth
next house
John Edwards head mar 44 fisherman
Mary wife 46
Ellen dau 17
Mary A dau 14
all born Oystermouth

baptisms to John & Mary Edward in Oystermouth, John either labourer or farmer, address Newton
John 19 June 1816, born 8 June - no occupation or address listed
Elizabeth 3 April 1819, born 22 March
Mary 13 Dec 1821
William 20 Nov 1825
Ann 20 Oct 1827
Sarah 11 Aug 1830
Margaret 2 Feb 1834
Ellen 29 May 1836 - possible burial as Eleanor age 2, 5 May 1838

Marriage of John Edward & Mary Morgan 26 Nov 1815, witnesses William Jenkins & John Tovey, the latter witnessed more than one marriage on the page and may be the parish clerk.

Possible burial in Oystermouth 15 April 1790 for John senior aged 79 of Newton
Possible baptism in Oystermouth 24 Oct 1790, born 17 Oct son of George
Possible marriage in Oystermouth George Edward, mariner, and Ann Thomas 14 Sep 1789, witnesses David Lloyd & Christopher Lewis.

[SamuelF992]

Thank you very much for all of this.

I had been going through these censuses, but I hadn't realised in 1841 the families were nextdoor to each other. That does seem promising. Also I hadn't noticed that all the other baptisms around this time were "Edward" rather than "Edwards". The baptism of a John Edwards in 1823 to John and Mary still concerns me, but I think on the balance of probabilities those censuses do look good.