First Name of Witness

[bearkat]

Lancs OPC has transcribed it as James.

[JDGen]

I think I'm leaning towards Saml - perhaps the Lancs OPC transcriber also had problems!

Thanks for all the help,

Jean

[Rena]

I turned this image into a negative view using the Irfan View programme.  There is no "e" in the signature.

You have to make a conscious effort to get the loops right on a capital letter "J" and the capital letter "S" but this person was quite confident and didn't bother with the top loop.   If the writer intended to sign with a "J" then he should have put the pen on the paper and made a left hand stroke, then moved upwards to a point and then back down again.

The writer didn't do that he went straight up to the top of the page and quickly brought the pen down again - he wasn't bothered with any loops at the top of his name, he was more bothered that his initial had plenty of loops at the bottom.

 I still think it's Saml

[Rosinish]

I have a question, why would both witnesses be male?

Did women not have a bridesmaid as a witness 

Annie

[JDGen]

I think the witnesses vary.  Sometimes it's the parish clerks who are both male, other times relatives who are either male or female.  I had considered both male and female witnesses but couldn't see either obviously but if anyone has female name ideas I think they are absolutely valid.

Jean

[Rosinish]

JD, it was an observation I thought I'd throw in.

Have you managed to find other Davenport baptisms which may help with who the witness was, likely a sibling?

I'm on the fence with a name as the last letter does look like a 'd' 

Annie

[Milliepede]

Yes I was just thinking the same, he could be a brother. 

[Gadget]

JD, it was an observation I thought I'd throw in.

Have you managed to find other Davenport baptisms which may help with who the witness was, likely a sibling?

I'm on the fence with a name as the last letter does look like a 'd' 

Annie

I did some searches earlier but nothing jumped out! 

Was John of Bolton?

[Treetotal]

Yes tricky one.  Could it be Saml 

That's what I see.
Carol