Farmers not registering children - Not registered?

[Helina]

Has anyone else had problems with Farmers not registering their children?

Well I have, on my Mother's side they were all Farmers. Easy to trace back because they never moved and all their children were baptised but registration no.

My Great Grandfather x 3 James Williams had 10 children between 1843-1861 none reg
My Grandfather x 2 Samuel Shepherd had 3 children between 1854-1863 none reg
Another relative Jonah Pitcher had 3 sons, 2 born pre 1837 but no sign of the youngest been reg
in 1840
Registration was not enforced back then so maybe they were just to busy to bother to reg but religion was very important.

Anyone else had similar experiences not necessary with Farmers

helina

[stanmapstone]

Registration was not enforced back then so maybe they were just to busy to bother to reg but religion was very important.

That is not strictly true,
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=635265.msg4827179#msg4827179

Stan

[Jonathan Frayne]

I too have come across this. In fact I came across a farmer registering his whole family at once (got a deal I reckon!). My suspicion is that my chap thought this amounted to registration and before 1874 (I think that's the year) the onus was on the registrar to ask and you then had to tell them but no penalty attached if the registrar didn't ask. He had the onerous task of acquainting himself with every child being born in his registration district and then go get the information from the parents. I can see why there might be gaps in the first 30 or so years of general registration.

[Helina]

Well my 3 Ancestors did not register their children, the first family in the 1840s but the 3rd family was later in the 1850/60s which did surprise me. Maybe because they lived in a rural area the Registrar did not get around to collect them while my Father's side who lived in Bristol it was easier.
Mind you I have had to accept after much research including help from this board and others plus 3 incorrect certificates that my Great Grandmother x 2 Elizabeth Blore (Fisher) death was not registered back in the late 1830s and that was in London.

helina

[Jonathan Frayne]

I think as well that there was considerable reluctance by some people to register anything in the early years. I recall reading that there was the same reluctance with the early censuses. There was suspicion that it gave too much information to government. Come to think of it, there are some people who have the same attitude nowadays!

[1716]

Around my way (Pre 1855) according to one page of the OPR, children may have been registered up to

"10 years after they were born...........(some) do not register at all having them baptised at examination"

[stanmapstone]

I too have come across this. In fact I came across a farmer registering his whole family at once (got a deal I reckon!).

Under Ecclesiastical law no fee can be charged for the administration of Sacraments. One nineteenth century Bishop said that to charge such a fee was “downright and glaring simony.”
The Baptismal Fees Abolition Act was passed in 1872, under which no fee can be charged for baptism notwithstanding any ancient custom to the contrary. The purpose of this act was to make the law clear in respect of fees for baptisms or for registering baptisms, it appeared that fees were being charged in some parishes, and it was intended to put an end to this system.
In one case where a rector demanded a fee of two shillings for a baptism legal opinion was that;
a)   No fee can be claimed for the registration of a baptism;
b)   It is very doubtful whether in any case, even where there has been a custom to do so, a fee can be asked for the administration of baptism;
c)   It is certain that no such fee can be recovered by law;
d)   It is also certain that any clergyman refusing to baptize or to register the baptism on the ground of no fee having been paid can be proceeded against and punished under the 68th and 70th Canons of the Act of 52 George III., cap. 146.

See also http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=619264.msg4678701#msg4678701

My suspicion is that my chap thought this amounted to registration and before 1874 (I think that's the year) the onus was on the registrar to ask and you then had to tell them but no penalty attached if the registrar didn't ask. He had the onerous task of acquainting himself with every child being born in his registration district and then go get the information from the parents. I can see why there might be gaps in the first 30 or so years of general registration.

Have a look at the post I referenced  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=635265.msg4827179#msg4827179


Stan