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

My friends living in the Emirates had a baby girl at 26 weeks gestation. The mother is German, the father is Lebanese and described as a Muslim although he does not support his religion. You have to have a religion on your passport to live in the Emirates. Anyway, my friend was delighted when the nurse told them that they had baptised their daughter. My friend thought this was wonderful as she didn't want her to be considered a Muslim. However, on her passport it says Muslim, this has to follow the father's religion. So, officially she's Muslim but baptised a Christian. I'm sure there must be many unusual cases. Liz www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery OPC for Street, Somerset

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

Sometimes there is a note in the box where the Minister signs his name, not always as obvious as the regular margin note, or the line written across and below the baptism. Yvonne Scrivener Canberra ACT Australia -----Original Message----- From: bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:bristol_and_district-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Charani 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.