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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: mezentia on Friday 26 September 25 23:03 BST (UK)

Title: 1686 Baptism
Post by: mezentia on Friday 26 September 25 23:03 BST (UK)
The attached image shows the baptism of a T Stonyer, son of Thomas and Elizabeth his wife on the 2nd September 1686. But what is the bit before the date? I think it is Offlow Church. But if so, where is this in relation to Leek?

Original image at https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2F007605006%2F00667&parentid=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2FBAP%2F1149200 (https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2F007605006%2F00667&parentid=GBPRS%2FSTAFF%2FBAP%2F1149200).

FindMyPast's transcription says the baptism took place at St. Edward's church in Leek.
Title: Re: 1686 Baptism
Post by: franh1946 on Friday 26 September 25 23:59 BST (UK)
Hi Mezentia, I can't get a good image of your extract, but I would presume it says "of Low Church"i.e. not High or established Church. Fran
Title: Re: 1686 Baptism
Post by: horselydown86 on Saturday 27 September 25 04:31 BST (UK)
The record underneath is:  de Leek = of Leek

The Stonyer record is either:  de ffow-church or de flow-church

In these cases it's useful to see a wider range of records because the places are usually repeated a few times.

(I don't have FindMyPast access.)

ADDED:

I didn't mention stow-church as a possibility because no other long-s is present in the clip, and no other t with a tightly looped top.
Title: Re: 1686 Baptism
Post by: Bookbox on Saturday 27 September 25 09:33 BST (UK)
The Stonyer record is either:  de ffow-church or de flow-church

I agree with de ffow-church.

Perhaps Fowlchurch was intended?

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/IOE01/09141/37

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/staffs/vol7/pp232-239
See under Ball Haye, where the Stonyer family is mentioned.
'The name Fowchurch was coming into use by the later 1630s'.
Title: Re: 1686 Baptism
Post by: mezentia on Monday 29 September 25 13:12 BST (UK)
Thank you all for the suggestions and links, which I will follow up.

Back with more soon  ;D