RootsChat.Com

Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: amypatricia1 on Sunday 24 May 15 09:20 BST (UK)

Title: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: amypatricia1 on Sunday 24 May 15 09:20 BST (UK)
Hi everyone,
Wondering if somebody could tell me what the 'A' means in the margin of this baptism record I've found?
Thanks,
Amy

Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: Wiggy on Sunday 24 May 15 09:24 BST (UK)
I don't KNOW, but . . . .

Looks as if they could be adults - just wondering if the dates in the far left margin are dates of birth?

Is the record from a church where adult baptisms are the norm?    :-\    Just wondering why the other people on the page don't have the age as they also would seem to be adults if my reasoning is correct.

What is the heading of the column in which Analytical Chemist is written?  Does it refer to the person being baptised - or the parents?

Wiggy 
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: amypatricia1 on Sunday 24 May 15 09:33 BST (UK)
That column with 'analytical chemist' is parents occupation.
The 'adult' theory is a great one, and makes sense, but why does the bottom entry not have an 'A' if this is the case?
Hmm.


Amy
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: Wiggy on Sunday 24 May 15 09:40 BST (UK)
is there a heading on the column on the far left? 

The last name not having an A is what made me wonder too.  :-\
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 24 May 15 09:58 BST (UK)
Does the "A" appear on other entries/pages?

I would go with the Adult baptisms, and assume the priest simply omitted the "A" from the final entry on the page?!
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: barryd on Sunday 24 May 15 10:34 BST (UK)
Most certainly adult baptisms. Notice Eliza Mary Ann Day, she is a married woman on baptism day. Get a calculator and work out how old they were when they were baptized as their births are  added in the left margin.
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: amypatricia1 on Sunday 24 May 15 11:48 BST (UK)
The A is not written beside all entries, some have nothing and some have 'P' which I think means private baptism. Not even all the adults have an 'A' next to their entry, although that may just be human error? Thanks all for the replies!
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: giggsycat on Sunday 24 May 15 17:15 BST (UK)
Just a thought. The woman on the last entry would only be 19, so not technically an adult?

Or of course I could be wildly wrong!
Title: Re: Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?
Post by: Jebber on Sunday 24 May 15 18:24 BST (UK)
Giggsycat is correct, and if you look closely at the middle one of the three adult baptisms, it was a baptism after her marriage. I have a couple like that in my husband's tree.


Jebber