Can 2 children have the same christian name?

[PaulThommo]

The 1851 census for my GG Grandparents Robert & Margery (nee Jefferson) Thompson lists the whole family, including 12 children and 2 of the children are called James. The first James (middle name Jefferson) was baptised on 15 November 1829 and the 2nd James birth year is stated as 1844. I have managed to find baptism records for 10 of the children, all baptised at St Hilda's church in South Shields except for the 2nd James and one other brother. I can understand a child being given the same Christian name if the first named one had passed away (although I find this rather morbid). Can it be that the family have taken in the 2 children I can't find baptism records for from another member of the family for whatever reason.

[Jamjar]

Although I can't see the census, is it possible that the second James is the illegitimate son of one of their children?

Jamjar

[heywood]

Although I can't see the census, is it possible that the second James is the illegitimate son of one of their children?

Jamjar

My thoughts too. Is there a civil record of the second James' birth?

[Jamjar]

There's a James Thompson South Shields March Quarter 1843 10a 703

Also one in the June Quarter and one named James Allison Thompson in June 1884

Jamjar

[Guy Etchells]

The 1851 census for my GG Grandparents Robert & Margery (nee Jefferson) Thompson lists the whole family, including 12 children and 2 of the children are called James. The first James (middle name Jefferson) was baptised on 15 November 1829 and the 2nd James birth year is stated as 1844. I have managed to find baptism records for 10 of the children, all baptised at St Hilda's church in South Shields except for the 2nd James and one other brother. I can understand a child being given the same Christian name if the first named one had passed away (although I find this rather morbid). Can it be that the family have taken in the 2 children I can't find baptism records for from another member of the family for whatever reason.

Yes the practice of naming children with the same name was not uncommon in the past when many children died shortly after birth or within the first few years of life.In some families it was important that a certain name was passed down in the family and in order that this occurred some named a subsequent child the same as one who had died or in other cases if they thought the child was frail.

Have you looked for that particular name in earlier generations of the family?

Cheers
Guy

[vronlady]

which of the other children's baptism is missing?

[PaulThommo]

Hi Jamjar,
Thanks for that thought, the eldest child of the family, Hannah, was born in 1826 so with James (2) being born in 1844 it is always a possibility, didn't think of that, however she does not appear with the family on the 1851 census. Further investigation required.

Although I can't see the census, is it possible that the second James is the illegitimate son of one of their children?

Jamjar

My thoughts too. Is there a civil record of the second James' birth?

[PaulThommo]

The child born 2 years earlier, William, I haven't found his birth/baptism yet, however the 3 children born after James (2) I have baptism records for.

which of the other children's baptism is missing?

[PaulThommo]

Hi Guy, Thanks for that, James Jefferson was the father of Margery (nee Jefferson) Thompson the mother, so a good reason for the name. It's the only James I have come across. The first son James was 21 at the 1851 census so if he was a sickly child he was managing to survive, I haven't followed him up in later life yet.

The 1851 census for my GG Grandparents Robert & Margery (nee Jefferson) Thompson lists the whole family, including 12 children and 2 of the children are called James. The first James (middle name Jefferson) was baptised on 15 November 1829 and the 2nd James birth year is stated as 1844. I have managed to find baptism records for 10 of the children, all baptised at St Hilda's church in South Shields except for the 2nd James and one other brother. I can understand a child being given the same Christian name if the first named one had passed away (although I find this rather morbid). Can it be that the family have taken in the 2 children I can't find baptism records for from another member of the family for whatever reason.

Yes the practice of naming children with the same name was not uncommon in the past when many children died shortly after birth or within the first few years of life.In some families it was important that a certain name was passed down in the family and in order that this occurred some named a subsequent child the same as one who had died or in other cases if they thought the child was frail.

Have you looked for that particular name in earlier generations of the family?

Cheers
Guy