Explanations of terms on Parish Records

[Colin Rowledge]

Can someone explain to a 'simpleton' like me, the difference between base born and illegitimate.?

This will help me in furhter research on my ancestors.

Colin

[MarkJ]

No difference - just two different ways of saying the same thing Colin. Different vicars used different phrases - there are others meaning the same thing too.

Mark

[Guy Etchells]

Here are a few of terms used in Parish Registers-

bastard, base, baseborn, a by-blow, begotten in fornication, chance begot, chance child, illegitimate, love-child, love-begotten,
natural, misbegotten, merrily begotten, merrybegot, spurious, a scape-begotten child, whoreson, child of a harlot, child of shame.

In Latin there are filius nullius (son of none), filius populi (son of the people), filius meretricis (son of a prostitute).
Cheers
Guy

[Blues Mark]

i have an ancestor Benton Travis, baptised on 3 March 1725 'of spurious parents' at Saltfleetby so not one but both parents were spurious....is this a dead end?

[Guy Etchells]

Do you mean he/she was a foundling, or has the entry been confused in transcription?
Or was this an adult baptism?
Cheers
Guy