Born at Grandmother's house?

[Scottsearcher]

A question please for those of you fortunate enough to come across a 'very full' record.

If, in the early 19th century, an expectant mother returns to her mother's home for the confinement and the grandmother's home is in a different parish, where, usually, is the child baptised?

How different might the situation be after Poor Law Reform?

In anticipation of some replies, thanks for reading this!

[Marmalady]

Wherever the child is born, the baptism could be anywhere

If born at Grnadmothers house, the baptism could either be in that parish or might be delayed untill the family return home and hold the baptism in their own parish


I have several examples where a married son or daughter, having moved many miles away, takes their babies "back home" for baptism

[Colin Cruddace]

There is a popular belief that a woman returns home for the delivery of her first-born, where she will receive better care and attention.

That idea seemed very logical to me until some local records became available online, which showed that my unmarried Gx3 Gmother returned to her 'home' parish as she was 'with child' and they were obliged to provide parish relief and accommodation, so she was alloocated a room in a house of another lady. There was no indication that she had contact with her family who lived in a nearby village, but I would like to think so.

Colin

[Scottsearcher]

Hi Marmalady and Colin

Thanks for your replies.

I too had an ancestor 'removed' to her parish of entitlement on 'being with child'. She was housed in what was reported to me as being a house some way distant from the village itself. Judging by the baptismal entries in the register for 'bastard' children she was far from alone!

Do you not think, Colin, that expectant mothers did return for a bit of help with their first childbirth?It does seem a popular belief and might start to explain a course I'm following with an ancestor (not so far distant) who really seems to have covered his tracks

[mazi]

It is a popular belief, but my grandfather born 1882 told me that this was why he was a Yorkshireman, even tho' his parents were living in Lancashire, he said this was not an unusual happening, and the census returns and his birth cert. confirm this.

regards mike

[Scottsearcher]

Hi Mike
Thanks for your reply.
I think there's extra dimensions tho' here - Yorkshire parents having a baby in Lancashire - what about t'cricket!

Regards

Jackie
(South Yorkshire!)

[mazi]

fred truman and brian statham made a pretty good pair

mike

[Colin Cruddace]

Do you not think, Colin, that expectant mothers did return for a bit of help with their first childbirth?It does seem a popular belief and might start to explain a course I'm following with an ancestor (not so far distant) who really seems to have covered his tracks

I suppose it's a question of marital status. If there was a husband then there would be no entitlement to Parish relief which would make it more likely that a return to her old Parish was for family support and assistance. Another possibility, if it was pre-Civil Registration of Births, is that she returned home for the child to be Baptised in the presence of her family.

Colin