Entry on Parish Records

[Eric Ponton]

Forgive my ignorance. I have copies of Wiltshire Parish Records. On a birth entry why would details of a relative be shown as well as/rather than the parents

[sueannbowen]

Hi Eric, which parish is it and what does the transcript say?

[Peter Goodey]

Is it a transcript or a photographic/digital reproduction?

If you think it might help, please also include adjacent entries.

[Eric Ponton]

Its a photographic reproduction-I think. The entry is for birth of Moses Ponton 1809 in Warminster. Alongside it does not give parent details but only says Relative :Willis Shimming

[Geoffers]

Possibly the child was orphaned/abandoned, maybe Willis Shimming adopted him, maybe the parent(s) were working elsewhere??

[benny1982]

Might be a good idea to check for any Ponton to a Shimming marriage. Not making any promises but William Shimming could have been an uncle, perhaps the mothers brother.