Multiple baptisms

David Tuson

David Tuson

Well-Known Member
One of my ancestors seems to have been baptised three times.

Ann Eliza BRYAN baptised 21 Mar 1855 St John Preston
Baptised a second time 21 Mar 1855 All Saints Preston
(I can understand these but not the one below
Baptised 4 Jan 1857 St John Preston

Source is LancsOPC
Their abode in 1855 was Bow St; in 1857 Meadow St

I have checked on GRO and there was only one Ann Eliza born in 1855, non in 1857; and no deaths between 1855 - 1857.

So what could the reason be?

David
 
I believe we have had this before and maybe it happens if the child is baptised in a hurry at birth due to some complications and not expected to live. Then when it becomes apparent that the child is healthy, a proper church baptism is performed.
 
It might also be worth checking who the Minister was on the occasions that are a couple of years apart.

I have known - not often, but it did happen - that, when a new incumbent arrived, he would insist that all infants be baptised "just in case" they were missed when they were babes. This happened to a several times great grandfather of mine out in Suffolk. :rolleyes:
 
Both baptisms in 1855 were by the same minister, the 1857 one was a different one. One baptism is from All Saints the other St John, 1855. Two different registers, same minister. o_O Same day.
 
Both Ancestry and FMP say they got there info from Familysearch for the 1855 ones. When you search for her on Familysearch only the St John, Preston baptism comes up.o_O
 
It’s known as St John Minster...what does that mean. All Saints wasn’t established until 1848 so perhaps St. John’s is the main church...
No idea really. Some will be able to explain. :nailbiting:
 
According to their websites they are both Evangelical churches.

All Saints
A large number of cotton workers had been taught to read and understand the Bible by a young Curate in the town, and it was their desire to build a church and call him as their Minister. So collections were made of 1p or 2p per week from their meager wages until the sum of £1000 had been collected and the foundation stone could be laid; this was done by the mayor in 1846; the money being supplemented by gifts from local business men. This enabled the Trustees to call the Rev. William Walling to be the Minister.

St Johns
....... but by 1770 its condition had deteriorated. In that year, its dedication was changed again, this time to Saint John the Evangelist. In 1811, the tower was partly demolished, to be replaced by a new tower in 1814.
However, by 1853, the church was in such a bad condition that, apart from the base of the tower, the whole church was demolished.

The new church was built between 1853 and 1855; it was designed by E. H. Shellard, and it is considered to be his major work. In 1856, the Lancaster architect E. G. Paley designed a font and probably added groining to the tower, in 1857–58 he designed a reredos and, in 1859, the organ case.
 
I’m wondering if the entry on Lancs OPC of the baptism at All Saints is an error by the parish clerk. Their other child was baptised at St Johns in 1852
All Saints and St John seem to be two seperate parishes so I cant see how they would have the same minister.
 
It sounds as if St Johns wasn't in a usable state in 1855 - no font until 1856? Perhaps the minister and congregation used All Saints whilst the church was being rebuilt and the baptisms were entered in both registers - once as the place of baptism and once as "becoming a member of the congregation". It would be worth checking both registers to see if there were more cases like this. Maybe when St Johns was reconsecrated and being used again for worship a new incumbent decided to rebaptise those christened in the interval.
 
Some of mine seemed to do a batch rebaptism of the whole family when they joined the Bible Christian movement. Was she the only family member baptised on those dates?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sis
The baptism entry at All Saints was by W Walling. The baptism entry at St Johns was certified by W Walling. Or visa versa. I’m old. :rolleyes:
Yes, that’s right. The baptism was at All Saints but certified at St Johns by the same W Walling.
Does that make sense?
 
Last edited:
I would suggest that the first 2 entries were made because the Minister had a number of Church's to go round. This was quite common in small places. He may have forgotten which Church he did the baptism in so put both entries in . It's possible he didn't have a Clark at the Church to write it down so did it himself when he returned to the Vicarage.
 
Daft Bat said:
It might also be worth checking who the Minister was on the occasions that are a couple of years apart.

I have known - not often, but it did happen - that, when a new incumbent arrived, he would insist that all infants be baptised "just in case" they were missed when they were babes. This happened to a several times great grandfather of mine out in Suffolk. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Interesting thought and the minister had changed from 1855 to 1857
 
In my email Inbox I had a message questioning whether Ann's mother was Ellen Hartley. I accidentally deleted that message and I cannot see it in the above posts.
The answer is YES and thanks to the person who posted that message.
David
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top