Genealogy Chat

Hi Carol and Peter,

Apologies for not replying sooner.

Carol, that's a fantastic tip, and one I didn't have a clue about. I've given it a try and have found it very usefull. It looks as if I could order a copy, so thanks very very much.

Peter, thanks for the info too, it's very reasuring that one can find such documents.

Thanks to all who have responded and given tips for me.
Good Luck to you all, Lou

Lou,

I had exactly this case with my gt-gt-gt-grandfather: on censuses he always claimed to be born in the City of London but I searched nearly all the City parish registers but without success. Eventually I found him in the City Lying-in Hospital. He was baptised in the hospital chapel and I was able to see the chapel register at the LMA (yes, the real thing). From the long list of names it would appear that it was usual for children born in the hospital to be baptised there.

Peter

Looby Loo

On Family Search, look under Library Catalogue and it shows filmed records of British Lying In Hospital (Holborn) [originals at TNA.]

If the LDS film(s) covered the date you wanted, you could order a copy through your local LDS History Centre, if you can't get to Kew.

Carol

Hi Kate, Thanks for the interesting info I didn't know that. Thanks very much.

But if I found the info on the LDS site, surely I would be able to get a copy of the parish record of the baptism - wouldn't I?

Lou

He could have been, although he might not necessarily have been ill - a lying-in hospital would be a bit like a maternity hospital now, as the period around childbirth was called "lying-in" (because you were meant to stay in bed for a fortnight or month). I think women who could afford it would hire a midwife or monthly nurse - maybe both - to attend them in their own homes but everyday women might have gone into a lying-in hospital.

Depending on how long they stayed in there (I suppose the idea was that mum got a rest from household duties!) the baby might have been baptised before they left the hospital - I have some relatives who were baptised on the day they were born or a couple of days afterwards but by the later 19th century it could be a week or a month or more after birth before they were baptised. Perhaps the baby in the lying-in hospital was ill and unlikely to live? Or perhaps the mother just wanted them to be baptised soon after birth?

Hi Quinsgran, That's what I was thinking. But was also wondering whether it would be possible to get a copy of the parish record.

Lou

Perhaps the baby was sick and they thought the baby would die so had it baptised there
Google Lying in Hospital and Endell St is mentioned

It's probably a silly question but I've found the baptism of my ancestor on the LDS site and it states - Lying in Hospital, Endell Street, Holborn. Does this mean he was actually baptised in hospital and I won't find him in any parish record?

Thanks, Lou