Baptised more than once?

[farrener]

This refers to baptisms between 1805 and 1826, and I believe they were all anglican.

I have one family who seem to have had some of their children baptised more than once - in different churches. The family were living in the city of london, and then moved out to Esher, Surrey. Two of their children who had been previously baptised at churces in the City were baptised again at the church in Esher (St George's), and one child was baptised at the church in Esher a month or so after his birth, and then a month later was baptised again, with a different middle name at St Olaves in Southwark.

I am 100% sure in two cases and 99.9% sure in the third that these are all the same children, and not different children.

Can anybody give me any insight into why this may have happened?

Fiona

[Geoffers]

This refers to baptisms between 1805 and 1826, and I believe they were all anglican. I have one family who seem to have had some of their children baptised more than once - in different churches. The family were living in the city of london, and then moved out to Esher, Surrey. Two of their children who had been previously baptised at churces in the City were baptised again at the church in Esher (St George's), and one child was baptised at the church in Esher a month or so after his birth, and then a month later was baptised again, with a different middle name at St Olaves in Southwark.....Can anybody give me any insight into why this may have happened?
I cannot say for London and what follows may not be the same as the case you mention - but - I have come across something similar in Norfolk parishes.

The circumstances under which I have found it to occur are when a baby is privately baptised at birth and this baptism is noted in the register - often with a note to that effect. A second entry sometimes appears in the baptism register with a note that the child 'was received into the congregation'.

For pre-1813 baptisms, these two 'events' are simply recorded in one entry in the register, noting that the child was privately baptised on a certain day and received into the congregation on a later date.

On the odd occasion I have found a private baptism in one parish and a public baptism in another - as though the Vicar/Curate wanted to have things done 'properly'.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Frank_Spooner]

Could it be baptisms in different religions C of E then RC or vice-versa. I have ancestors that were baptised C of E and then rebaptised in the Presbetyrian church.

Frank

[AnnB]

And I have come across it the other way around - first baptism in a non conformist church, then rebaptised in a C of E one.

Best wishes
Ann

[laroc]

This refers to baptisms between 1805 and 1826, and I believe they were all anglican.

I have one family who seem to have had some of their children baptised more than once - in different churches. The family were living in the city of london, and then moved out to Esher, Surrey. Two of their children who had been previously baptised at churces in the City were baptised again at the church in Esher (St George's), and one child was baptised at the church in Esher a month or so after his birth, and then a month later was baptised again, with a different middle name at St Olaves in Southwark.

I am 100% sure in two cases and 99.9% sure in the third that these are all the same children, and not different children.

Can anybody give me any insight into why this may have happened?

Fiona
I have an Uncle who was baptised in the workhouse at four weeks old and then baptised into the Catholic faith at eight years old. In his case it was because my Grandparents fostered/adopted him.
Carol

[Wirral]

We have a number of instances in our family where there was a "mixed" marriage - ie Catholic & protestant - and one granny took the child off to be baptised in the "correct" faith, despite the parents & the other granny choosing to have the child baptised in the other one!

[Rod Neep]

This refers to baptisms between 1805 and 1826, and I believe they were all anglican.

I have one family who seem to have had some of their children baptised more than once - in different churches. The family were living in the city of london, and then moved out to Esher, Surrey. Two of their children who had been previously baptised at churces in the City were baptised again at the church in Esher (St George's), and one child was baptised at the church in Esher a month or so after his birth, and then a month later was baptised again, with a different middle name at St Olaves in Southwark.

I am 100% sure in two cases and 99.9% sure in the third that these are all the same children, and not different children.

Can anybody give me any insight into why this may have happened?

Fiona
Yes Fiona.
There was more to baptism than just being baptised.

You see... there was this thing called "Right of Settlement". To gain right of settlement, one had to be baptised in the parish where you were born. Being baptised meant that you were recorded in that parish. The proof was there in the baptism register!

If at some later date you (or your parents) became destitute and in need of parish relief, then "Right of Settlement" kicked in. If you didn't have right of settlement, then you were "removed" to another parish where you did! So that parish would have to pay.
Now.... some people cheated the system, and had their children baptised in more than one parish!!
There's your answer.
Regards
Rod

[farrener]

Thanks Rod, this is really interesting.

Since I posted the original message I have found more instances of this custom within the family. I knew about the poor law and 'settlement', but hadn't thought about it in this way. People will always find a way around the system, was this considered to be 'benefit cheating' or just general prudence.

Can you recommend any reading or sources of further knowledge on how people worked around the Poor Law? Or is this a potential research project?

Thanking you all kindly for your responses.

Fiona