WESTBURY-SUB-MENDIP BAPTISMS 1654 - 1920 INTRODUCTORY NOTES INDEX OF BAPTISMS / BIRTHS FOR THE CHURCH OF ST. LAWRENCE AT WESTBURY SUB MENDIP DATE AND VERSION Date of issue is 18 February 2019; version number 3.0 UPDATE POLICY Updates will be issued when significant new data becomes available, either in the form of additional information or amendments to existing information, or when time has moved on sufficiently to allow a later cut-off point than the current one of 1920. DATA SCOPE AND SEQUENCE This datafile contains details of baptisms / births recorded in Westbury church archives covering the period 1654 - 1920. There is one line for each individual baptism / birth recorded The datafile is presented in alphabetic sequence of surname; for individuals with the same surname the sequence is by first forename and then second forename. Where surname and forenames are the same the sequence is by earliest date of birth /baptism. DATA SOURCES Information has been obtained from the following sources: - commemorative gravestones in Westbury churchyard and church - Baptism Register 1914 -1920 - Baptism Register 1849 - 1913 - Baptism Register 1813 - 1849 (held at Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) - Baptism Register 1784 - 1813 (held at Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) - Parish Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1713 - 1783 (held at Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) - Parish Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages 1654 - 1712 (held at Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) - Clerk's Notebook of burials and baptisms 1836 - 1846 (held at Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) - Bishop's Transcripts, miscellaneous extracts 1607 - 1837 (held at Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton) It should be noted that the above records are not always complete. For example, there appears to be a gap between 1754 and 1756 in the register and there is another suspicious gap between November 1757 and September 1758 when no baptisms / births are recorded. DATA CONTENT The contents of each column in the datafile are described briefly below. Surname, Forename 1, Forename 2, Other Forenames The contents of these columns are self-explanatory. As entries in the registers are not always clear, there has inevitably been some degree of interpretation in determining surnames and forenames. In addition, spelling of names varies considerably, depending upon, or in some cases, regardless of the person making the register entry. Again, some interpretation has been necessary; where appropriate, the 'Notes' column indicates any significant diversion from or interpretation of the register entry. However, when searching this index it is important to consider possible alternative spellings of the name being sought, e.g. Spearing, Speering, Sperring, Spiring etc. Sex M = male, F = female. Where the sex of the child is not known, this column is blank. In these instances the first forename may be shown as 'Child' Date of Birth Where known, the date of birth is given in the form DD MM YYYY. In some cases both the date of birth and date of baptism are shown. Where the date of birth is not known, the relevant columns are left blank. Date of Baptism Where known, the date of baptism is given in the form DD MM YYYY. In some cases both the date of birth and date of baptism are shown. Where the date of baptism is not known, the relevant columns are left blank. Name of Father Where known, the forename(s) of the father is (are) given. The surname is assumed to be the same as that of the child, unless specifically stated otherwise. In the case of a single parent / unmarried mother the name of the father may be blank. Name of Mother Where known, the forename(s) of the mother is (are) given. For a large part of the period in which parish registers have been maintained, it seems that the significance of the mother was not given great prominence and it is often only the name of the father that is included in the register entries. Baptism Ref This entry identifies the source document from which details of the baptism / birth have been obtained and, where appropriate, gives a line reference within the source document. The entry is in the form 'document reference / line reference' The following designations are used to identify the different source documents: BTnnnn/nn - Bishop's Transcripts where nnnn = year and nn = sequence number of the entry within that year (the sequence number is not shown on the actual document, but has been allocated in order to enable the entry to be found more easily in documents which are very difficult to read). BAP1914 - Baptism Register from 1914 to 1920 BAP1849 - Baptism Register from 1849 to 1913 BAP1813 - Baptism Register from 1813 to 1849 BAP1783 - Baptism Register from 1783 to 1812 (line references have been allocated in this datafile but are not present in original document) BAP1713 - Baptism Register from 1713 to 1783; this register also contains details of burials occurring in the same period, together with (some) marriages taking place in the period 1713 to 1754. Baptisms / births have been allocated a reference number in ascending sequence of their occurrence in this register. BAP1654 - Baptism Register from 1654 to 1712; this register also contains details of burials and marriages in the same period. Baptisms / births have been allocated a reference number in ascending sequence of their occurrence in this register. Version 3.0 Date printed: 21/02/2019 Page 1 of 44 WESTBURY-SUB-MENDIP BAPTISMS 1654 - 1920 Abode City, town, village or settlement of the family to whom the child is born. This information is not shown in many baptism register entries and only in more recent times has it become more usual to provide this information Address Street or house name of the residence of the family to whom the child is born. Rarely shown, except in more recent times. Occupation of Father (or Status of Mother) From 1813 onwards it seems to have been common practice to specify the occupation of the father. In those cases where the child is born to a single mother some indication of her status may be given. Notes This column contains relevant additional information, including queries / expressions of doubt as to whether there might be alternative interpretations of the data. A small number of entries have three red asterisks in this column; this indicates that a small amount of additional information may be available, but does not fit the box. The data recorded in these notes is not directly accessible in this database, but the information can be obtained by completing the contact form linked to the home page of the Westbury-sub-Mendip website. Caveat: Many entries in the registers, particularly the older registers, are difficult to read. Entries have faded, handwriting is far from clear, writing conventions for particular characters vary according to the style of the person entering the information and spelling can be both phonetic (e.g. 'Alice' may appear as 'Alas') and idiosyncratic. In using this datafile it is advisable to be prepared to look for alternative spellings of the name for which you may be searching, e.g. Combs, Coombs, Combes and Cumbes may all potentially represent names belonging to members of the same family, while other entries, e.g. Culoern, may be intended to represent an entirely different name, possibly 'Cullen'. SPECIAL NOTE The record keeping of Charles Barnes, vicar from 1892 to 1943, appears to have been extremely poor, especially in his early years. As a result, there are a significant number of entries where data is missing. It seems likely that he wrote up the register at infrequent intervals using details recorded in a workbook. However, he may have lost the workbook and/or failed to record the relevant details in it. The table below shows the records affected by his maladministration with the missing data elements being shown by the entry '???' Baptism ref Family surname Name of child Names of parents Date of baptism Notes BAP1849/649 ??? ??? ??? 21.12.1891 BAP1849/655 ??? ??? ??? 12.06.1892 BAP1849/656 ??? ??? ??? 12.06.1892 BAP1849/657 ??? ??? ??? 12.06.1892 BAP1849/658 ??? ??? ??? 07.08.1892 BAP1849/659 ??? ??? ??? 07.08.1892 BAP1849/660 ??? ??? ??? 06.11.1892 BAP1849/661 ??? ??? ??? 27.11.1892 BAP1849/663 Masters ??? ??? 02.04.1893 BAP1849/665 Northam ??? Thomas/Annie ??? Possibly Archibald Tom Redwood Northam; see burials BUR1882/150 BAP1849/666 Yerburgh ??? ??? ??? Parents' surname possibly Yerbury, see marriage MAR1838/140 BAP1849/676 Weeks ??? Edwin/Lena 05.08.1894 Possibly Sarah Ann Vowles Weeks; see marriage MAR1838/240 BAP1849/677 Marsh ??? ??? 05.08.1894 Parents' names possibly Thomas and Mary Ann on basis of other baptism records BAP1849/678 Hole ??? William/Sarah 05.08.1894 Possible options: Douglas (died in WWI in 1918) and Sarah (died in 1982) BAP1849/679 Weeks ??? Thomas/Betsy Julia 05.08.1894 Possible child is Marchant Spratt Weeks; see burials BUR1882/134 BAP1849/691 Hole ??? Frank/Annie 02.06.1895 Possible child could be Elizabeth Marjorie; see marriage MAR1838/222 BAP1849/704 Masters Annie ??? 07.06.1896 Parents' names possibly Henry and Elizabeth Ann BAP1849/728 Stubbins Ernest ??? 08.01.1899 Parents probably John and Sarah on basis of other baptism records BAP1849/738 Green Sarah Elizabeth ??? 01.04.1900 Parents probably John and Elizabeth on basis of other baptism records BAP1849/749 Besley ??? ??? 07.07.1901 If surname were 'Beesley', parents may have been Edwin Joseph and Sarah BAP1849/779 Rolls Sidney Ernest ??? 25.04.1905 Father's name may have been Sidney; see burials BUR1882/236 CHURCH