London Baptisms

[Olleyke]

I hope this doesn't sound like a silly question, but was it common for a family to only have a few of their children baptised and not the rest?

The reason I ask is, my great great grandparents, Thomas James and Maria Olley, had 14 children according to the 1911 census (5 of which I do not know names/dates of), all born in London between 1895 - 1911.

From the 9 I'm aware of, only one I can find a baptism for (via Ancestry).

Was this common, or am I just not looking hard enough?

OlleyKe

PS. Merry Christmas!

[lizdb]

Ive certainly got families where they didnt have all the children christened - or at least there dont seem to be surviving records.

But I wouldnt come to that conclusion just because "they arent on Ancestry"

Not all parish records are even online at all, yet alone all on Ancestry.

[Olleyke]

Thank you for your reply lizdb.

I'm just getting a bit downhearted as their mother Maria Holmes is a complete mystery to me, I've been trying to crack her for the last 3 years, possibly more but with no avail. I thought maybe a baptism could unveil new information, such as a middle name or another name she went by.

Thanks again

OlleyKe

[josey]

Thomas James and Maria Olley, had 14 children according to the 1911 census , all born in London between 1895 - 1911.

That's a fast output  - I suspect there must have been a multiple birth or two. Can you give us the dates of birth of the ones you know about - then any gaps might indicate 'missing' children. Also the places & years of birth, or approximate ages on the 1911, of Thomas & Maria.

[Olleyke]

Edgar Charles Frederick, Jan-Feb-Mar 1895, Hammersmith
Winifred Olive, 11 Nov 1897, Hammersmith
George, Jan-Feb-Mar 1898, Hammersmith
Harold Victor Joseph, 21 Feb 1902, Hammersmith
Dorothy Lucy, 8 July 1903, 4 Hunt Street, Fulham
James William, 18 Apr 1905, Hammersmith, he was baptised 3 May 1905, St Matthew West Kensington
Alfred, Jan-Feb-Mar 1909, Hammersmith
Eva, Jan-Feb-Mar 1910, Hammersmith
Donald, Jul-Aug-Sep 1911, Hammersmith

It also says on the 1911 census that they were married in 1895, but I have their marriage certified and they were married in 1908. I guess that was just to cover their backs as Edgar was born in 1895

OlleyKe

[josey]

OK, so there are possible gaps between 1898 & 1902, 1905 - 1909 & just about one between Edgar & Winifred but NOT a 9 months gap between Winifred & George  - perhaps Winifred was baptised when about a year old - or is that a date of birth, as you say you only have 1 baptism. It is possible that Thomas & Maria may have counted stillbirths, although it was 'number of children born alive' that was requested.

The reason I ask is, my great great grandparents, Thomas James and Maria Olley, had 14 children according to the 1911 census (5 of which I do not know names/dates of), all born in London between 1895 - 1911.

I see in 1901 they are James & Maud Olley.....1911 they are James & Maria....

[Olleyke]

Thank you josey. I will look through the births and deaths of Olley children in them years and see what I can find. It states that they had 14 altogether, 5 living and 9 had died, and as their are 5 living with them, the 5 unaccounted for must have died.

I believe in the 1901 that her name is just mistranscribed.

OlleyKe

[SouthendSue]

The London Baptisms on A******y only go up to 1906 so the younger children's baptisms wouldn't be there anyway. I do wonder though if the parents may have waited until after their marriage before baptising children if indeed they bothered at all!

[dawnsh]

See 1st post here

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=430983.0

You'll most probably have to contact Hammersmith Archives to find the missing baptisms.

The registers have been filmed by the LDS so you can see those at the National Archives Kew or order in to your local LDS family history centre