Debbie, I don't have alot of knowledge about this, but here is some of what I've picked up and or figured out. This will be general info since I don't know all the circumstances. Hopefully someone will be able to give us both more info. It was not uncommon for couples to "jump the broom" when living in isolated areas. This was a recoginized practice and was done in the presence of friends and neighbors. Sometimes a priest was only in the village once a year or less. There may be a civil marriage that has not been located. The church service was sometimes viewed as a formality. It was also common for several family members to be baptised at the same time... for the same reason. Or that Baptism and First Communion be administered at the same time. Many girls were married and/or mothers in their early teens; by 20, you might be considered an 'old maid', 'long in the tooth'. My father was 38 when he married my mother; she was 17. He used to kid her that when she was ready to turn out to pasture', her baby sister (born 5 months after they married) would be ready to take her place. And this train of thought was as recent as the 1940s. I'm sure this doesn't give you any solid answers; maybe it will give some possibilites. Good luck in your search! Rita McP ritamcp1@bellsouth.net debbie wrote: > Question for you all....how are illigitmate births shown in the Baton > Rouge Sacremental records or are they indicated at all? > > I have a man and woman who had 9, yes count them 9, children before they > were married! The first four were all baptized together on one date > (some almost 4 years old at the time, in 1829) Then in 1839, then next > 5 were baptized, about 3 weeks prior to the marriage of the father and > mother! > > (He was also previously married to a minor (about 15 years old) with > which he had 2 children before he married her! She did die, as she is > shown as deceased on her sons marriage record in 1825. Thought maybe he > was still married to the first wife and couldn't marry the second for > some reason until she divorced him(if this was even allowed) or the > marriage was annulled or something.) > > I am just wondering at the late date of marriage....they are not closely > related or anything, curious..... > > Thanks for any ideas on what may have happened here. I am not familiar > enough with the customs of the times to hazard a real idea of what might > have happened... > > Debbie