Abbreviation for George

[Jenjen]

Can someone please tell me how George was abbreviated in church records? Also in a record of a christening there is a peculiar notation in the left hand margin. It appears as a circle on the left with what looks like a hand attached to it . There are 5 projections 4 of which are pointed and one (in the thumb position) is rounded. there is a line across at the base of the fingers. From the notation is a line going to the date which was Sept. 4 1768. The record was at Eyam parish church. Any ideas? Might this represent an ecclesiastical day?
Thanks Jen

[AnnB]

Hello Jen

The most usual abbrieviation for George was Geo. (although I have seen it written as Gorge, which, I'm sure, was a mistake rather than a reflection on the chap's character ;) )

I can't help with the other part of your query, but everything in Eyam seems to come back the the Plague - don't suppose this could have any bearing?

Sorry, have just realised what date you are talking about - well past Plague time :o

Best wishes
Ann

[Ken Boyce]

Hi Jen

You do not indicate if the notation is in a different hand than that of the registry entry and if different if it’s old or modern also whether George is associated with the entry or notation or neither.

The only abbreviation I’ve come across in post 1800 docs for George is Geo. However earlier documents may have used the Latin form Gor from Gordius

Concerning the cryptic margin jotting apparently tied to the date - my mind wandering somewhat aimlessly thinks could this be a date calculation aid – the entry is post 1752 but even after 16yrs a stubborn old curate may not have adjusted the register date to omit the 11 days in Sept 1752 and someone was making the adjustment – the register needs checking back to Sept 2 1752 to find out - there should be no entries between the 3rd and 13th for Sept - Or perhaps someone was toying around with George III Regnal yrs (which started 25 Oct 1760 NS)

Anyone else care to brainstorm this intriguing mystery.

BTW - I believe that the LDS IGI makes no differentiation between the old and new calendars or makes any adjustment in the dates listed in the record transcripts - which in my opinion is as it should be. - Family researchers should be aware of such things particularly where migration dates are concerned between countries that used different calendars in the 17/18C. I believe there was a difference in the calendars between Scotland and England and between Cof E and some other church records.

I do not know how FreeReg is dealing with this.question.of calendars.

Regards

[Jenjen]

Thanks to Ann and Ken for your response. I think the answer is Gordius because I had a couple of people at the FHC look at this and they thought it was Godfrey. (Not a name that has come up before.) You see, there were 3 letters and then a letter above. ( not sure if that type of abbreviation has a special name) Early records at Eyam were in Latin.
I need to do a little research to understand what it was you were referring to about the calendars. This is something new to me. I will have to go back to look at the film again before it goes back to SLC.
Thanks Jen

[Jenjen]

I found a good website which explains the calendars to which you refer.
http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/publications/articles/speeches/2001/Morris08062001.htm
Amazing what you learn when doing genealogy.
Jen

[Geoffers]

in a record of a christening there is a peculiar notation in the left hand margin. It appears as a circle on the left with what looks like a hand attached to it . There are 5 projections 4 of which are pointed and one (in the thumb position) is rounded. there is a line across at the base of the fingers.
Is this an entry from a parish register and if so are there other entries with similar marks beside them?

In one parish register (Blickling, Norfolk) I have come across a series of marks in 18th century records which appear to be marks used by various people who could not write. Most are simple crosses or straight lines - but some take specific form, such as what looks like a key, another is a hammer, and so on.

Geoffers