Baptisms

Elizabetha

Hi, would I be right in thinking that in late 1800's/early 1900's babies would have been baptised within a couple of weeks unlike now?
Thanks!

shanew

In general RC baptisms took place very soon after birth i.e. days - sometimes even the same day. CofI baptisms could take place months later.



S.

Elizabetha

Thought so much, thanks Shane.

P. Breathnach

Elizabetha wrote: »

Hi, would I be right in thinking that in late 1800's/early 1900's babies would have been baptised within a couple of weeks unlike now?
Thanks!

Even as recently as the mid-1900s. I think even a couple of weeks is a generous estimate: less than a week was the norm.

Elizabetha

Thanks P Breathnack, I suppose it was because so many babies died soon after birth

lottpaul

Since the baptism took place so soon after birth it was common for the mother not to be present. Normally just the father and sponsors/godparents.

On one or two family records I saw this resulted in confusion with the godmothers name down as the mother and vice versa - in each case they were sisters and perhaps the priest/clerk just got mixed up.

P. Breathnach

Just another interesting wrinkle, a thing that can cause confusion unless you are aware of it: sometimes it appears that babies were baptised before they were born.

Baptism was normally conducted in the first few days of a child's life. Registration of the birth might be delayed until it was convenient - for example, the next time a parent was in the local town, which might not be a regular visit. There was a financial penalty for late registration (I think more than 3 months later than the birth); the standard way of avoiding the fine was to declare a later date than the true one.

Hermy

Must acknowledge more incidental help. I've been trawling the Church records the past few days with a lot of success and have gotten back to 1784! Some of the links are a bit tenuous to say the least but the above discussion gives me a bit more confidence that I'm not too far off with some of the assumptions I've been making.

Elizabetha

Thanks lads, those comments make a lot of sense. Between ancesters not knowing their age and putting down pet names it can get quite confusing!