Genealogy Chat

Why would a male be babtised 1909 when born 1890.

In order to be married? Maybe the church would not allow him to marry without being christened first.

Thanks Neil,
did not think of that one.

Hi

My 2xgreat grandad William Coombs was baptised aged 13 in 1873 in Marylebone, London. He probably was about to serve an apprenticeship etc as a printer and needed to be baptised.

Ben

Thanks ben this one was 19, could it be for signing into the army or navy do you think.

My gt. grandfather was baptised age 36, I don't know why.

My parents haven't quite got round to having me christened, perhaps they have left it just a little bit too late?

I have an adult Baptism in my family at 50!


Elaine

Never too late Claire! You can be baptised at any age. I think the Baptist church only do adult baptism - children are 'dedicated' and then baptised when they've grown up.

Don't some churches and denominations 'Confirm' you at around 13? This may go down as a baptism possibly.

Sally you have bought up a good point.

William Coombs was 13, so you reckon it could be a confirmation?. The record said "Adult Baptism".

Ben

Would be surprised. Confirmation is the 'confirming' of the vows made at baptism.

Adult baptism and confirmation are two different things. A confirmation wouldn't be listed in the baptism records.

A friend of mine was baptized at 32 just before he was posted overseas with an Army unit to a war zone. His wife wanted him to be, she said it would be a comfort to her if anything happened to him.

Back in 1909´it could have been for a similar reason like joining the services (what occupation did he have) Or possibly so that he could be married, some vicars would refuse to marry a couple if one of them wasn´t a baptized member of the church.

If it says "adult baptism" then that is what it would be. Not a confirmation.

Neither of my parents were christened so when they started arranging their marriage the vicar refused to marry them without baptising them first. However, the vicar was taken ill and they were married by a different one without being baptised. I wasn't christened either.

Perhaps he wanted to be confirmed which in the C of E often happens at about age 13. Anyone not baptised as an infant has to be baptised as an adult baptism before being confirmed. This still happens now.

Many thanks for your replys sorry I did not answer yesterday but visitors have this habbit of turning up lol