In a message dated 16/11/2007 07:48:52 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes: The abbreviation "Ped" was found in Sunderland Parish Church records Sunderland Durham 1719 to 1804. It is a copy of the register on fiche at the local LDS church. It appears to be a capital "P" followed by little "ed". The abbreviation also appears in Monkwearmouth St Peters records. The local convener does not know what it is either. The following is an example Nov 7 1719 William S Thos Eliz Dixon Ped Some records appear to have placenames where Ped occurs for others Wendy: It is probably really "Pd" (for "paid"). What you are reading as an "e" is probably really only a small flourish. Herbert Maxwell Wood, whose transcripts, made about a century ago, are very highly thought of, and which I understand to have been used when the IGI was first compiled (as the CFI), completely ignores that "word". Whatever it means he seems not to have regarded it as significant. I think it is true to say that very few of the earlier baptism records have addresses to go with them, so I wouldn't regard it as a substitute for an address. You might enquire at Sunderland Public Library to see what J C Corder made of it in his transcript. I still wonder why, with Wood, Corder et al having transcribed those records - and Wood being available on microfiche from "Northfiche" - you are transcribing this register yet again. An enquiry at Durham Record Office or at Tyne and Wear or at the NDFHS would bring forth a list of other registers from the Sunderland district which have not yet ever been transcribed and where some more work would be most welcome. Geoff Nicholson