Fornication and baptism

[Redroger]

Stan's interesting reply has set me on a slight tangent, remember the story of the twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, the sons of a she wolf,(lupa). I believe the story! Why? In Italian and Latin the word lupa has at least two meanings 1) a she wolf 2) a prostitute. If I re-write my sentence as --- the story of the twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, the sons of a prostitute I think the legend becomes a lot clearer. Sorry to digress.

[Seoras]

It was an interesting digression though RR

[Redroger]

Thanks George, On my mother's side there are several instances of the marriage just beating the baptism, sufficient to produce the phrase "Born in the vestry!" Interestingly they were strict Baptists in a small rural community, like you I imagine the sermons were interesting.

[Seoras]

Hi RR,I have one where the birth was in October,the marriage in November and Baptism in December.I think people were much more hands on than we were taught

By the way the original Alexander begotten of fornication did make it to the alter before he began begatting.

George.

[Redroger]

I like the legibility of the copperplate handwriting George, suggests to me that Scottish education was superior then too!
I think the Victorian values of prudery and hypocrisy rammed down out throats by the so called moral majority have much to do with the hang ups.

[Seoras]

Too right RR,especially when you think of the unspeakable things that were happening to children at the hands of some of the Victorian moral majority.
As to the cpperplate,yes I have had some lovely examples,some from Fife that was quite beautiful and easy to read.

George.

[Redroger]

Many societies have a fixation about "the abled bodied poor" "lazy benefit scroungers" etc. etc. Too frequently many of these people are the same  as those who are ultra relgious, purer than use etc. etc. and have large families. Unfortunately they are blind to the fact that large families in this modern age are only adding to the world's problem of over population.

[Jeuel]

People have always had sex - otherwise none of us would be here.  In the days before reliable contraception, people chose between abstinence and "fornication".  I doubt if anyone has a family tree with no illegitimate births - and its very common for a married couple's first child to be baptised within less than 9 months of the wedding.

I'm not sure why there's an idea that our ancestors were much more moral and virtuous than we are. 

[Wiggy]

What an interesting thread this is to be sure - makes me feel quite at home in our family now!!

I do like the 'try before you buy theory' too - makes sense doesn't it!!

If I were to choose between those names of out of wedlock children I think I would go for merrybegot!    I like that one!   

Love Stan's little list!