Baptism 'A' in margin - What does it mean?

[amypatricia1]

Hi everyone,
Wondering if somebody could tell me what the 'A' means in the margin of this baptism record I've found?
Thanks,
Amy

[Wiggy]

I don't KNOW, but . . . .

Looks as if they could be adults - just wondering if the dates in the far left margin are dates of birth?

Is the record from a church where adult baptisms are the norm?        Just wondering why the other people on the page don't have the age as they also would seem to be adults if my reasoning is correct.

What is the heading of the column in which Analytical Chemist is written?  Does it refer to the person being baptised - or the parents?

Wiggy 

[amypatricia1]

That column with 'analytical chemist' is parents occupation.
The 'adult' theory is a great one, and makes sense, but why does the bottom entry not have an 'A' if this is the case?
Hmm.


Amy

[Wiggy]

is there a heading on the column on the far left? 

The last name not having an A is what made me wonder too. 

[KGarrad]

Does the "A" appear on other entries/pages?

I would go with the Adult baptisms, and assume the priest simply omitted the "A" from the final entry on the page?!

[barryd]

Most certainly adult baptisms. Notice Eliza Mary Ann Day, she is a married woman on baptism day. Get a calculator and work out how old they were when they were baptized as their births are  added in the left margin.

[amypatricia1]

The A is not written beside all entries, some have nothing and some have 'P' which I think means private baptism. Not even all the adults have an 'A' next to their entry, although that may just be human error? Thanks all for the replies!

[giggsycat]

Just a thought. The woman on the last entry would only be 19, so not technically an adult?

Or of course I could be wildly wrong!

[Jebber]

Giggsycat is correct, and if you look closely at the middle one of the three adult baptisms, it was a baptism after her marriage. I have a couple like that in my husband's tree.


Jebber