Why can't you find that baptism? Here's one reason.

[keldon]

I've been doing some research in Essex and I knew that a birth took place on a certain date. Could I find the baptism? No. Until, that is, I discovered in the archives the Parish Clerk's 'Memoranda of Baptisms'. In it were listed all the baptisms which took place and which should have then been transferred to the Register. In several cases, including my one, they had not been not transferred. I assume a clerical error.

Unfortunately, such a discovery of another source for baptisms is very rare.

Thought I would share this in case anyone comes across a similar document in their research.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Phil

I do know of one source of baptisms (nonconformist) which turned up in a diary or daybook written by the minister. The original register has disappeared.

OC

[Anne in Carlisle]

Looking on Ancestry and FMP for images of baptisms for my One Name study I sometimes find books which have been filmed and are more like notebooks. Quite often the "proper" baptism book is filmed as well. Sometimes the notebook has different or extra information!!!

Anne

[Guy]

I've been doing some research in Essex and I knew that a birth took place on a certain date. Could I find the baptism? No. Until, that is, I discovered in the archives the Parish Clerk's 'Memoranda of Baptisms'. In it were listed all the baptisms which took place and which should have then been transferred to the Register. In several cases, including my one, they had not been not transferred. I assume a clerical error.

Unfortunately, such a discovery of another source for baptisms is very rare.

Thought I would share this in case anyone comes across a similar document in their research.

Yes all Parish Registers are transcripts of the day-book or rough book. The entries used to be transcribed into the register each Sunday after morning or evening prayers.
Some registers are transcripts of transcripts and Bishop's Transcripts can be transcripts of these third copies.

I have always advised that researchers check all available copies of registers that are available as differences do appear.
One parish I heard had four different copies of the parish register.
Cheers
Guy

[keldon]

Thanks everyone, your examples show that it's worth not dismissing apparently duplicate versins of a register!

[Olde Crone Holden]

This thread also points up the importance of investigating far and wide and not just relying on BMDs, census, church records etc. I discovered the existence of the "daybook" records whilst reading an old local history pamphlet, which explained the complicated history of the noncons in that small village AND the fact that the local vicar in the late 1700s was somewhat eccentric, for want of a better word, and believed that the church registers belonged to him. When he was dismissed over some scandal, he took the register with him!

Another chance discovery was from an old county history book, boring in the extreme, but with the little gem that the early methodist records for this Lancashire village were amongst the Yorkshire circuit records and were wrongly attributed to one small chapel.

OC

[Harrys mum]

I found one where the PRs had the wrong mother for a child. Lucky for me, the bishop knew the family and actually read the PRs. It is all corrected in the BT with a family tree going back two more generations just to prove his point. Not sure I would have liked to cross that bishop. lol

[PhotoFamily]

Yes all Parish Registers are transcripts of the day-book or rough book. The entries used to be transcribed into the register each Sunday after morning or evening prayers.

Seriously. OK, that might explain why my g'g'grandfather's sister, baptized on the same day as three of her siblings, is Elizabeth on the register instead of Esther (as she was named on her Cert and on Census). If it was transcribed, suddenly there's a strong explanation.

Anyone know if the Day-book exists for St Dunstan, Stepney in 1844. Maybe that would have recorded the DOBs, too!

[dicole]

Sounds like instead of expanding the family tree along the edges, I had better concentrate on looking for day books and other records for those I have serious questions about. Maybe some mysteries might be resolved.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Google is the family historian's friend!

And don't forget the much-underused LDS Library catalogue. This lists all kinds of obscure publications about various people and places. You may not always be able to borrow the item from the LDS but at least you will have a title to go and search for elsewhere!

[PhotoFamily]

Google is the family historian's friend!

And don't forget the much-underused LDS Library catalogue.

Thanks, OC - I'd already checked familysearch's catalog. Now I've checked TNA's. Day books for baptisms seem to end in 1837 in St Dunstan, Stepney. If anyone else has ideas, I'd love to hear them!

[clematised]

http://archive.org/details/marriageregister02step St Dunstan Marriage Records read on line book 1898 only 100 copies of this book printed, the book says marriage and birth records.
If you google the name of the church or place there is much to be found in google books
Edna

The date of publishing was 1898 the register dates as follows

Table of Contents

	v.1. 1568-1639.
	v.2. 1640-1696.
	v.3. 1697-1719.

[PhotoFamily]

Thanks, Edna - I'm specifically looking for the Day Book, not the register, and just baptisms. The day books seem to exist for burials and I think marriages, but not baptisms in the specific year I need (1844).

I have the baptism, but I think there's a transcription error on the fourth child's name.

[clematised]

Sorry I couldn't be of further help but that info may be of use to someone else perhaps

Edna

[Olde Crone Holden]

The day books may no longer exist, or may exist but haven't been catalogued, or have been miscatalogued. Or you may find the information you need by using other channels such as books printed about the church or area, or family etc, which is how I found mine.

OC

[keldon]

This thread is called: Why can't you find that baptism? Here's one reason.

I've just found another reason. Entry in a parish marriage register 1765 in Essex.

'The name of Bird was Simpson and Henry was James. Their names altered by John Leggett clerk being bribed by some persons whom he thinks said they came from Brightlingsea.'

I wonder how many got away with it?

[Anne in Carlisle]

That's a good one. LOL
Anne