I have just come back on-line after New Year, may I wish you all a very Happy and productive New Year. I've been fascinated by the "two baptisms" thread. I have quite a few ancestors baptised twice but most were Methodist baptisms between 1839 and 1842 and later the whole brood were baptised at one time in the St Michael's C of E in Winterbourne in 1845. I have assumed that there was a social status issue at work in this case unless someone can give me another reason? I have another case of two baptisms at St Michael's, Winterbourne. John Low was baptised there on 10 Apr 1796, parents Joseph Low and Susannah Low (nee Francombe). Then in 1805 the same couple baptise a John Low on 22 Sep 1805 in the same church. I have copies of the registers for both baptisms and for the Bishop's transcripts of the baptisms. The first John Low born in 1796 goes on to live until 1877 working as a Hatter, so he didn't die leading to a later son being given the same name. However, no further trace can be found of a John Low born in 1805. Could these be the same person? Was he very ill in 1805 and baptised again? ...or could the second entry be an error? I ask this because I have g-g-grandfather Thomas Low born in 1805/6 (the man who rebaptised his children as I mentioned earlier) in Winterbourne who became a Hatter and I cannot find his baptism. Could a note by the vicar of "Thom Low" have become "John Low" in the register? Does anyone know how the register was completed? Was it on the spot at the time or later at the end of the day when memory had been faded by the sound of "happy" babies ringing in their ears? Any thoughts or insights most welcome. Lawrence

Hi Michelle, No sign of a Francis on the CD "They Lived in Bristol" 1813 -1837. Jacky ======================================================================== Jacky Jackson-Cox Personal web page: http://www.btinternet.com/~jacky3/ Last updated 01/02/2009 --- On Mon, 4/1/10, Michelle Nichols <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> wrote: > From: Michelle Nichols <michelle_nichols@hotmail.com> > Subject: [B&D] Ponting conundrum > To: bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com > Date: Monday, 4 January, 2010, 13:08 > > Hoping someone maybe able to assist. > > >From a birth certificate I have Francis PONTING was > born the 1st December 1837, son of Thomas PONTING and AMelia > nee ROW. However I have also received information from the > BAFHS: Baptismal Registers 1813 - 1837 that state he was > baptised on the 29th November 1835 baptised at St Philip and > Jacob living St James.  Someone on the list has kindly > re-checked the source and it seems to be correct. Obviously > he was unable to be baptised before he was born. Either it > was transcribed incorrectly or there was another child > called Francis born and then died before 1837. > > I wondered if anyone on the list have a copy of the BAFHS > "They Lived in Bristol" 1813 -1837 to see if there is a > burial for this Francis or any other Ponting family members > from Bristol, listed below. > > Thomas PONTING c.1802 – 1871 > Amelia ROW 1807 – 1888 > Issue: > Catherine PONTING 1827 –  > George PONTING 1829 – 1903 > Henry PONTING 1831 – 1903 migrated to Australia > Thomas PONTING 1833 – 1915 > Francis PONTING 1837 – 1902 migrated to Australia > Amelia Mary PONTING 1839 – 1855 > Emma PONTING 1842 –  > Phoebe PONTING 1844 – 1882 migrated to Australia > Ellen/Helen PONTING 1847 –  > Matilda PONTING 1851 – 1867 > > I am descended from Henry PONTING who migrated to > Australia. > > Michelle Nichols > Sydney NSW > Australia     >          >            >   > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the > subject and the body of the message >

Adrian B wrote: > However, in practice I've seen it happen quite often - > the classic case is once in an Anglican church, plus once in a > non-conformist chapel. I've seen that in either order. This would be quite normal where someone changed from CoE to non con, or vice versa, to be baptised into their new church. I wonder if, when a family moved to a different parish, the children were baptised again because they had gone to a "new church" > But I've also seen a child baptised once then, several years later, baptised > again with their siblings in a job-lot "catch-up" baptism. Presumably the > parents weren't quite sure whether their elder child had been baptised and > an eager curate just booked the lot in! (The ages in later census make it > clear it really is the same child, not a 2nd child with the same name). That probably happened a lot more than we realise :)) -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton and Greinton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

Geoffrey Stone wrote: > The 'conventional wisdom' is that children cannot be baptised > twice. It is certainly true that sickly children were sometimes > baptised privately, and sometimes baptised 'again'. > > I wonder whether the first baptism being done hurriedly, in case the > poor infant doesn't survive, is perhaps not a full baptism and more > of a blessing with prayers for his/her survival, perhaps without > godparents present. The later baptism being a 'proper' baptism with > godparents and a proper introduction to the church and congregation. The second wasn't a baptism even though it was entered into the baptismal register. You will sometimes see it marked as "received into the Church" and occasionally will have the actual date of birth given. It might also give the date of the private baptism even though it might already have been noted in the register. If a child was baptised privately, the second entry would be when the child was received into the church. It was sometimes called a "half baptism" and was, as you rightly surmise, when the child was weak and sickly and not expected to survive. Anyone could do this baptism: the midwife, a member of the child's family or anyone else present at the birth. It didn't have to be the parish priest. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton and Greinton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

: "Charani" <wrote Anyone could do this baptism: the > midwife, a member of the child's family or anyone else present at the > birth. It didn't have to be the parish priest. > This is still true. When I was born, my mother was staying with her cousin. The cousin's daughter was so shocked that my mother was not going to have me baptised, she took me into the bathroom, and "did it herself."! I did not find out about this until I was about 30. So, my second cousin was "the officiating minister." The minister at my present church was quite satisfied that I had been done properly so I did not get a second one. Gil

Is anyone researching Thomas Mead bn c 1871 and marrying Emily Trimnell in 1895 ? They were living in Robertson Road Easton, Bristol in the 1911 Census Grant

----- Original Message ----- Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms I have a child baptised twice in my extended family tree. Birth was first registered under mother's name, with the note "illegitimate" and baptised with mother's surname. After she married, the child was baptised some three years later in a different area, this time with her husband's surname. The date of the second baptism is the age given on later censuses. Barbara

The 'conventional wisdom' is that children cannot be baptised twice. It is certainly true that sickly children were sometimes baptised privately, and sometimes baptised 'again'. I wonder whether the first baptism being done hurriedly, in case the poor infant doesn't survive, is perhaps not a full baptism and more of a blessing with prayers for his/her survival, perhaps without godparents present. The later baptism being a 'proper' baptism with godparents and a proper introduction to the church and congregation. Do we have a vicar or church warden on the list who can shed some light on this? Regards, Geoff One Name Study of WEDMORE worldwide and linked interests in BRISON, DUCK, POLE, TOLSON and One Name Study of PUCKLE, SCARNELL and SCUFFHAM in the UK. http://www.wedmore.org.uk

There are a series of well known multiple baptisms for the children of travelling folk. In the past parish priests often used to give the parents of babies that they baptised a small gift of money to encourge them...:-) This led to travellers taking advantage (in all senses) of such offers and having the same baby baptised multiple times in different parishes on their travels... I read a very interesting article on research into this sometime ago, but I cannot remember where, and I've tried searching on the Internet with no luck. Polly

Thanks Adrian Like you, I had come across various reasons for "2nd baptisms" but this one was new to me so I thought it was worth sharing. Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Adrian B" <abruce@madasafish.com> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 12:09 PM Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > > "the father ... told the vicar that he disagreed with the name. I hadn't > come across this situation before" > Not something I've ever seen either but it makes intriguing sense - thanks > for sharing it as a possible explanation for unexplained children. > > "as children are only allowed to be baptised once" > Well - I guess in theory yes, though I'd prefer to say that they only need > to be baptised once. However, in practice I've seen it happen quite > often - > the classic case is once in an Anglican church, plus once in a > non-conformist chapel. I've seen that in either order. I've also got > double > baptisms for one child in a CofE church. I suspect that in some cases the > first is simply a "private" baptism that wasn't marked as such, with the > 2nd > being the follow-up public acceptance rather than a full baptism. > > But I've also seen a child baptised once then, several years later, > baptised > again with their siblings in a job-lot "catch-up" baptism. Presumably the > parents weren't quite sure whether their elder child had been baptised and > an eager curate just booked the lot in! (The ages in later census make it > clear it really is the same child, not a 2nd child with the same name). > > Adrian B > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

A number of my ancestors in one family were baptized soon after their births. The vicar left and a new one came and all the children were baptized again on the same day. In the register there are whole blocks of such family christenings under the new vicar. Mike in Droitwich

"the father ... told the vicar that he disagreed with the name. I hadn't come across this situation before" Not something I've ever seen either but it makes intriguing sense - thanks for sharing it as a possible explanation for unexplained children. "as children are only allowed to be baptised once" Well - I guess in theory yes, though I'd prefer to say that they only need to be baptised once. However, in practice I've seen it happen quite often - the classic case is once in an Anglican church, plus once in a non-conformist chapel. I've seen that in either order. I've also got double baptisms for one child in a CofE church. I suspect that in some cases the first is simply a "private" baptism that wasn't marked as such, with the 2nd being the follow-up public acceptance rather than a full baptism. But I've also seen a child baptised once then, several years later, baptised again with their siblings in a job-lot "catch-up" baptism. Presumably the parents weren't quite sure whether their elder child had been baptised and an eager curate just booked the lot in! (The ages in later census make it clear it really is the same child, not a 2nd child with the same name). Adrian B

Hi Liz I have seen both entries in the baptismal registers of both the Lying in Hospital and the Parish Church Tony ----- Original Message ----- From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 10:36 AM Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > Have you checked to see if the first baptism wasn't just what is referred > to > as a "Private Baptism" or if one of them wasn't a "Churching" ? > The occasion I was referring to was a very different situation and one I > had > never come across before and that was when the father went to the vicar > when > he returned from war and told the vicar that he disagreed with the name. > I > hadn't come across this situation before as children are only allowed to > be > baptised once! > Liz > www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery > OPC for Street, Somerset > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tony Harrison" <a.harrison@tesco.net> > To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 10:27 AM > Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > > >> Hi Liz >> No real idea. I thought it might be that the child was baptised in >> hospital >> and father wasn't present so he arranged for the second baptism. Child >> was >> given same name so dad must have approved >> Tony >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> >> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 8:48 AM >> Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms >> >> >>> Hi Tony >>> Do you know the reason there was a second baptism and was the child >>> given >>> a >>> different name? >>> Liz >>> www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery >>> OPC for Street, Somerset >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Tony Harrison" <a.harrison@tesco.net> >>> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> >>> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 11:48 PM >>> Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms >>> >>> >>>> Hi Liz >>>> I have a similar occurrence the child was baptised in the Lying in >>>> Hospital >>>> just after birth and was baptised in the Parish Church 3 months later >>>> Tony >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> >>>> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> >>>> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 8:37 PM >>>> Subject: [B&D] Two baptisms >>>> >>>> >>>>> This is not a B&D birth but I feel it is worth mentioning here because >>>>> we >>>>> often hear of children being baptised twice and we all say, "no, no, >>>>> that >>>>> can't be"! On this occasion, the baby was born while the husband was >>>>> away >>>>> fighting. When he returned from the war his wife was delighted to >>>>> show >>>>> him >>>>> their baby who was born in his absence and she announced that she'd >>>>> had >>>>> him >>>>> baptised as William. The father was jubilant to find he had a son but >>>>> he >>>>> was not happy with the name and refused to accept it. So, the baby >>>>> was >>>>> baptised a second time using the name Arthur which was the name the >>>>> father >>>>> wanted. >>>>> >>>>> In the past I have actually found two children with different names >>>>> but >>>>> baptised within a few weeks of each other and wondered if there was an >>>>> error >>>>> or if the vicar had made an error but this has now started me thinking >>>>> about >>>>> some of those strange baptisms with different names. >>>>> >>>>> So, more food for thought there. >>>>> >>>>> Liz >>>>> www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery >>>>> OPC for Street, Somerset >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------- >>>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>>> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>>>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Tony Harrison wrote: > Hi Liz > No real idea. I thought it might be that the child was baptised in hospital > and father wasn't present so he arranged for the second baptism. Child was > given same name so dad must have approved It may be that the child was a little sickly so was baptised there as a precaution, then baptised a second time in church for a "proper" baptism, rather than being received into church as should have happened. However, you may well be right and his wife may have chosen to keep quiet about the first baptism rather than cause an argument. The father didn't have to be present at the baptism, as Liz commented. -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton and Greinton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk

Have you checked to see if the first baptism wasn't just what is referred to as a "Private Baptism" or if one of them wasn't a "Churching" ? The occasion I was referring to was a very different situation and one I had never come across before and that was when the father went to the vicar when he returned from war and told the vicar that he disagreed with the name. I hadn't come across this situation before as children are only allowed to be baptised once! Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Harrison" <a.harrison@tesco.net> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 10:27 AM Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > Hi Liz > No real idea. I thought it might be that the child was baptised in > hospital > and father wasn't present so he arranged for the second baptism. Child was > given same name so dad must have approved > Tony > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> > To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 8:48 AM > Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > > >> Hi Tony >> Do you know the reason there was a second baptism and was the child given >> a >> different name? >> Liz >> www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery >> OPC for Street, Somerset >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Tony Harrison" <a.harrison@tesco.net> >> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 11:48 PM >> Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms >> >> >>> Hi Liz >>> I have a similar occurrence the child was baptised in the Lying in >>> Hospital >>> just after birth and was baptised in the Parish Church 3 months later >>> Tony >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> >>> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> >>> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 8:37 PM >>> Subject: [B&D] Two baptisms >>> >>> >>>> This is not a B&D birth but I feel it is worth mentioning here because >>>> we >>>> often hear of children being baptised twice and we all say, "no, no, >>>> that >>>> can't be"! On this occasion, the baby was born while the husband was >>>> away >>>> fighting. When he returned from the war his wife was delighted to show >>>> him >>>> their baby who was born in his absence and she announced that she'd had >>>> him >>>> baptised as William. The father was jubilant to find he had a son but >>>> he >>>> was not happy with the name and refused to accept it. So, the baby was >>>> baptised a second time using the name Arthur which was the name the >>>> father >>>> wanted. >>>> >>>> In the past I have actually found two children with different names but >>>> baptised within a few weeks of each other and wondered if there was an >>>> error >>>> or if the vicar had made an error but this has now started me thinking >>>> about >>>> some of those strange baptisms with different names. >>>> >>>> So, more food for thought there. >>>> >>>> Liz >>>> www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery >>>> OPC for Street, Somerset >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Liz No real idea. I thought it might be that the child was baptised in hospital and father wasn't present so he arranged for the second baptism. Child was given same name so dad must have approved Tony ----- Original Message ----- From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 8:48 AM Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > Hi Tony > Do you know the reason there was a second baptism and was the child given > a > different name? > Liz > www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery > OPC for Street, Somerset > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tony Harrison" <a.harrison@tesco.net> > To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 11:48 PM > Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > > >> Hi Liz >> I have a similar occurrence the child was baptised in the Lying in >> Hospital >> just after birth and was baptised in the Parish Church 3 months later >> Tony >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> >> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 8:37 PM >> Subject: [B&D] Two baptisms >> >> >>> This is not a B&D birth but I feel it is worth mentioning here because >>> we >>> often hear of children being baptised twice and we all say, "no, no, >>> that >>> can't be"! On this occasion, the baby was born while the husband was >>> away >>> fighting. When he returned from the war his wife was delighted to show >>> him >>> their baby who was born in his absence and she announced that she'd had >>> him >>> baptised as William. The father was jubilant to find he had a son but >>> he >>> was not happy with the name and refused to accept it. So, the baby was >>> baptised a second time using the name Arthur which was the name the >>> father >>> wanted. >>> >>> In the past I have actually found two children with different names but >>> baptised within a few weeks of each other and wondered if there was an >>> error >>> or if the vicar had made an error but this has now started me thinking >>> about >>> some of those strange baptisms with different names. >>> >>> So, more food for thought there. >>> >>> Liz >>> www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery >>> OPC for Street, Somerset >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I have several of these in my family (great-grand aunt and uncle) in particular ~ Mary Worth privately bapt. 29 Apr 1787 at Luccombe & publicly 23 July 1787 & brother Benjamin Worth privately 24 Sept 1788 at Luccombe & publicly 4 Dec 1788 I can only assume that they were sickly. As you know Luccombe is a village and St Mary's, the church, is just around the corner. I have no record of their deaths. Edna - Ottawa

I had understood that sometimes, if the infant was not expected to live, there would be an "emergency baptism" in the hospital, or the home if that is where the birthing took place. Then, later, if the babe did live, it would have a formal baptism where it was presented to the congregation as would normally be the case. Happy hunting!   Diana Robinson (nee Gardner) Now in Rochester, NY, USA

Hi Tony Do you know the reason there was a second baptism and was the child given a different name? Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Harrison" <a.harrison@tesco.net> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 11:48 PM Subject: Re: [B&D] Two baptisms > Hi Liz > I have a similar occurrence the child was baptised in the Lying in > Hospital > just after birth and was baptised in the Parish Church 3 months later > Tony > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Liz" <e.newbery@btinternet.com> > To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 8:37 PM > Subject: [B&D] Two baptisms > > >> This is not a B&D birth but I feel it is worth mentioning here because we >> often hear of children being baptised twice and we all say, "no, no, that >> can't be"! On this occasion, the baby was born while the husband was >> away >> fighting. When he returned from the war his wife was delighted to show >> him >> their baby who was born in his absence and she announced that she'd had >> him >> baptised as William. The father was jubilant to find he had a son but he >> was not happy with the name and refused to accept it. So, the baby was >> baptised a second time using the name Arthur which was the name the >> father >> wanted. >> >> In the past I have actually found two children with different names but >> baptised within a few weeks of each other and wondered if there was an >> error >> or if the vicar had made an error but this has now started me thinking >> about >> some of those strange baptisms with different names. >> >> So, more food for thought there. >> >> Liz >> www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery >> OPC for Street, Somerset >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > BRISTOL_AND_DISTRICT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Hi Liz, Sometimes a child is privately baptised and then publicly. Then a child might be sickly and the baptism is deemed to be urgent, & the child recovers and is baptised again. The name part might be just an afterthought for some reason. Edna - frosty Ottawa