Born or baptised twice?

Neil McRae · Post by **Neil McRae** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:24 pm

Hi. I am having a little difficulty with Agnes Smart daughter of William Smart and Janet Miller. I have two Parish records for Agnes. Both are St Ninians Parish Stirling
First is March 1745 which states Mar 14 Parents William Smart Janet Mill-- child Agnes witnessed by Congregation place Looks like Kene Miln.

Second is January 1753 which states January 7 Parents William Smart Janet Miller child Agnes Witnessed by Cong place looks like Roburn.

As both events are described as witenssed by the congregation I assume these are baptism and not birth records

Seems odd to me that in a small parish two parents with the same names should baptise a child of the same name some 8 years apart.

I am looking for Agnes Smart who married William Brown 3 Jan 1772. both birth records are possible for Agnes but which? Is it possible the first child died and the parents gave a second daughter the same name? If so is there any way to check this.

::Neil::

Alcluith · Post by **Alcluith** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:20 pm

Neil,

Baptism is correct.
It is likely the first Agnes died young and the second was again named Agnes, this is quite common especially where they want to keep the name Agnes being mother/grandmother of either parent depending on where within her siblings she is born (see elsewhere on Scottish naming patterns). For that time period it is unlikely that there will be a death record but again need to look through the OPRs to see if it was recorded.

Alcluith

Neil McRae · Post by **Neil McRae** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:43 pm

Yes thank you that is more or less what I thought but nice to see it sort of confirmed. I don't know how to access the OPR records. I can't see any way on SP to search for a death so where do I look please. ::Neil::

Post by **paddyscar** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:14 pm

Hi Neil:

The OPRs or Old Parish Registers are available through ScotlandsPeople Home page. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Toward the bottom of the page there are four coloured boxes, from the left they are "Statutory Registers" (pink), then the next is "Old Parish Registers" (purple).

The OPRs are comprised mostly of Church of Scotland Registers and can be searched the same way as the Statutory Registers, but unfortunately, these are mostly Banns & Marriages and Births and & Baptisms prior to compulsory registration in 1855, so not many deaths recorded.

Frances

Neil McRae · Post by **Neil McRae** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:28 pm

Not sure what you mean here. I know about searching for births and marriges Etc from that purple box but it only gives two options Births -baptisms and Banns-Marriages there is not one for deaths so which would I use. ::Neil::

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 10:00 pm

Hi Neil
The OPR deaths are not yet available on SP - they are expected to be added at some point. Meanwhile you would need to visit NRH, or order the microfilms from your local LDS. If you were visiting the area over the summer, the local family history society or public library may have the films.

Also see, in TS library:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4510

Best wishes
Lesley

Neil McRae · Post by **Neil McRae** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:38 am

OK thanks. I will have to wait then until SP do have the records up and running. I am about 400 miles from any Scottish record office and we have other things to do with my leave from work. It is a pity these places are so far away from me but I have to live with that and do what I can from a distance. One day maybe. ::Neil::

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:55 am

Hi Neil
A search on the LDS site suggests that your nearest LDS centre seems not too far away:
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library ... et_fhc.asp

Family History Centers in St Albans, England:

St Albans England
Buckthorn Ave
St Albans, Bedfordshire, England
Phone: 44 (0) 143 835-1553
Hours: M, W, F 9.30am-1pm, W 7pm-9pm.

They will order in specific films for a small fee. Last time I did it, I think it was around £3, but it might be a wee bit more now, as that is a few years ago.

However, it does not look as though St Ninians recorded deaths:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/famrec/h ... r-cov.html
(can't copy & paste details for St Nininas as this option seems to have been disabled...darn & blast....

)

Best wishes
Lesley

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:48 am

The records for St. Ninian's, Stirling, show no death or burial records for that parish exist at all in the OPR - see http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/f ... 0to491.pdf

Possibly there may be a lair register or burial records held by the council or local archive, and you could also search for Monumental Inscription books. As Lesley says, it's unlikely for the period, but never say never!

Death records are supposed to be goong online at SP towards he end of the year, but SP has never kept to a deadline yet!

They are currently being indexed, but have all been digitised. The death records will include more than just the OPR deaths though, as GROS holds other pre-1855 death records as well.

Chris

Neil McRae · Post by **Neil McRae** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:16 pm

Ok that seems to have given me an answer of sorts. Great information which I am sure I will find useful in the future. I never thought of looking at the LDS records and such and I certainly was not aware they had local libraries. The St Albans meeting house is only about 6 miles so it looks like I will have to brave the wilds of deepest St Albans and go take a look at these people.

I have to say I am impressed with your replies on this matter. Many thanks. ::Neil::