Thank you for clearing this matter up Sid. I know I and several other people were not seeing things in 17th centuray parish records where a 'fee' was recorded along with the amount, and where the person could not afford to do so the word 'pauper' was written, and in some accounts the amount that were gathered were recorded along with how many were 'paupers'. Honor On 12/12/2010 00:09, Sid Jones wrote: > Hello to all those interested, > > > From time to time this matter came before the courts as there seems to have > been some confusion amongst the laity as to whether fees were chargeable or > not. The opinion.of the courts was generally that no fees were payable "by > common right" but that in some parishes they were payable "by custom" The > uncertainties and disputes that arose were however sufficient for an 1872 > Act "to render it unlawful to demand any Fee or Reward for the Celebration > of the Sacrament of Baptism, or Registry thereof. > > Even after the Act some doubts remained however, because whilst it became > unlawful "for any minister. clerk in orders, parish clerk,, vestry clerk, > warden or any person to demand any fee for reward for the celebration of > baptism or for the registry thereof"" the Act contained the proviso that > "this act shall not apply to the presemt holder of any office who may at the > present time be entitled by any Acnt of Parliament to demand such fees" > > So disputes were still possible - but then few parliamentary Bills have ever > been passed after discussion, amendment or indeed mutilation in the Commons > and the Lords, in terms such that the resultant Act did not entch the legal > profession. > > Sid > > . > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >SUFFOLK-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 SUFFOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message