This has bugged me since I started five years or so ago - curious to know people’s thoughts on this:
1861 census for Sheraton showing my 2xGG Mary Jane Firby and parents includes her 6-y-o brother Charlton Robert (Charlton being Mary Jane’s grandmother’s MMS).
Quickly found Charlton’s bapt record – 7 Aug 1854 Monk Hesleden.
Searching for birth certs for kids born to Firby & Patterson around that time only brings up one – for an Edmund Firby (same name as the father). Order it – he is clearly born to the correct parents. Shows a birth of 8 July 1854, recorded 11 Aug (ie 4 days after CR’s bapt).
But no other evidence of Edmund Jr exists – I have scrolled PRs for burials from 1854 up to 1858, searched more generously for one online, plus censuses. There’s plenty of evidence for CR though, right into adulthood. In fact, when he married, the announcement said “the only son of Mr J Firby of Shearton” (mind, that’s a mistake, it was E Firby, and they spelled Sheraton wrong too). Obviously, they would still probably say that if the only other son had died in infancy though, I guess?
So my question is – was there a mistake on the birth cert, or did his name change in the four days between baptism and registration? Or is there any chance there was a second brother?
I haven't found any reason to make such a sudden name change – his grandmother Charlton was still alive at the time, and although her parents are still a bit hazy ATM, I don’t see any Charlton burials in Aug 1854 that would trigger a sentimental change of name…
I'm not sure how common a naming mistake like that was on the cert, but as old man Firby (informant) was literate, you’d think he might have said summat if it was wrong?
