'ap' in Burial Register

[Mitch in Notts]

Corby Northants Burial Register 1785 has:

'Henry LANGLY Labourer ap. Febry 8'
'Ann wife of William MASON ap March 3'.

As I can't see it standing for 'apprentice' in this case, would you go for 'approximately' with regard to the burial date.... or am I missing something? (It seems to become prevalent in the register from around this date and of note: 'Hannah BAILEY Widw ap Nov 4th' - so not apprentice)

Thanks

Mitch

Alright got it - a pauper. Next page is full of them - with one example a few pages on actually written out in full....

[Peter Goodey]

Thank you for providing the date.

The significance of this is that from 1783 to 1794 baptism, marriage and burial entries in each parish register were subject to a tax of 3d (The Stamp Duties Act of 1783 (23 Geo.III c.67)). Church ministers were empowered to collect the duty, and were allowed to keep 10% of this fee as compensation for their trouble. Refusal to pay carried a fine of five pounds. Paupers were exempt and registers may be noted accordingly. Some vicars were generous in their definition of pauperism, it sounds as if this includes the Corby vicar!