Wedding and baptism records

[davidgodalming]

Please excuse my ignorance but I have an entry in the 1841 census for an ancestor who thought he was born about 1786. However I cannot find any record of his baptism.  Did many people simply not bother to have baptisms? That may explain why I cannot find a record. It just isn't there. Any comments gratefully received.

[stanmapstone]

They could have been non-conformist so will not be in C of E parish registers.

Stan

[Gaie]

Hi

Do you want to give some details so that others can have a look?

Many records have not yet been transcribed and uploaded to the internet, so it may be your ancestor's records are amongst those.

KR
Gaie

[mosiefish]

Also remember that ages were rounded down on the 1841 census so he could have been between 55 to 59 years old.

Mo

[davidgodalming]

Thanks to you all for the rapid response. My ancestor is a Joseph Jonathan born about 1786 in the village of Llansawel in Carmarthenshire, at least that's what he reckoned in the 1841 census. The surname Jonathan whilst not common is nevertheless one which crops up a lot in south west Wales so maybe an extended family. I cannot find a record of him marrying Anne but some of their children were baptised although not all it would seem. Looking at census records there's a Timothy Jonathan in the same village born the same time so maybe twin brothers. I just don't know.

[Gaie]

Just remember that in the 1841 census, ages were rounded down to the nearest five years, so when looking for baptisms you need to extend your search accordingly.

Gaie

Added:  many 1841 census pages do not have the ages rounded down, though 

[cemetery friends]

A fee was payable to the vicar so occasionally you find two or three of the children were baptised together when finances were perhaps improved or for example the father was working away and they waited until both parents could attend the christening. This could be a few years later.
There is a fairly high chance [over 50%] of being a non conformist baptism. See Genuki Wales for detail of NC records etc. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/

[trish1120]

1851 he is born c 1786 Llansawel also.

EDIT JAMES's Birth Cert wil give you Annes maiden name;
James JONATHAN, Sept 1838, Llandilofawr, 26 475


Trish

[Gaie]

A fee was payable to the vicar

Not true for baptisms; there were a few naughty vicars who charged, but they were not supposed to.

KR
Gaie