Great Yarmouth baptisms around 1803 - why are they all private?

[Sandrafamilytree]

I think my ancestor was baptised in Great Yarmouth in 1803 and on Ancestry I can see her name on the actual image of a Parish record of baptisms, marriages and deaths in Great Yarmouth between 1801 and 1806.

The document's right-hand column is headed 'Public or private' for the type of baptism.

I'm puzzled, because virtually every single baptism is marked as 'private'... there's page after page of them, with just the occasional 'public' one.

I would have thought it would be the other way round, with most baptisms being public.

Is there some obvious reason why there would be so many private baptisms in Great Yarmouth at that time?

[Rena]

I still use this old Norfolk genealpgy website:-

http://doun.org/transcriptions/

If you're lucky you will find webpages that include names of ancestors who could read the bible, or are included in the muster rolls which includes what sort of weapon each man owns, such as a pike, etc.

[Old Bristolian]

Perhaps there was an epidemic in the area at the time (measles or cholera perhaps) so most parents kept their children at home - or is that too modern a concept? Maybe the vicar/curate was ill himself or just absent.
Steve

[chempat]

Which church was this at, please?

[Sandrafamilytree]

Which church was this at, please?

St Nicholas's Church, Great Yarmouth.

[Sandrafamilytree]

Perhaps there was an epidemic in the area at the time (measles or cholera perhaps) so most parents kept their children at home - or is that too modern a concept? Maybe the vicar/curate was ill himself or just absent.
Steve

Thanks you very much for that suggestion.

My relative was baptised in January 1803 - when I scroll back through the document right back to January 1801, virtually all the baptisms are listed as private. Would that be an awfully long time for an epidemic or an absent curate?

[rosie99]

Could you please give a link to the images you are looking at

[emeltom]

Have you considered contacting the Norfolk Record Office and asking them?


Telephone
01603 222599
Email
norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk
URL
http://www.archives.norfolk.gov.uk

[Sandrafamilytree]

Could you please give a link to the images you are looking at

I'm not very technical. Hope this works. There are page after page of baptisms like this, with occasional 'public' ones.