Genealogy Chat

Can mistakes be made on a baptism details entered in a Parish Register.
Florence Ellen Ashby born April-June 1886 Watford Herts District.Marriage details Parish Register,Florence Ellen Ashby.
I have found an image of Baptism Registration,details correct,except middle name shown as Sarah.Baptized 25 July,born 20 April 1886,parents details,abode and fathers occupation correct.
Cannot find any more details for a Florence Sarah Ashby.
Should I take this as same person.

Nick

This seems to be the only one born Watford on the 91 census but her middle initial is R:


1891 England Census about Florence R Ashby
Name: Florence R Ashby
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1885
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Robert Ashby
Mother's name: Rose Jane Ashby
Gender: Female
Where born: Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Civil Parish: Watford
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
Town: Watford
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Watford
Sub registration district: Watford
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1119
Folio: 34
Page Number: 22
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert Ashby 27
Rose Jane Ashby 27
Florence R Ashby 6
Alfred Glenister 16

Or is she this one?


1891 England Census about Florence E Ashley
Name: Florence E Ashley
[Florence E Ashby]
Age: 6
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1885
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: William Ashley
Mother's name: Annie Ashley
Gender: Female
Where born: Bushey, Hertfordshire, England
Civil Parish: Bushey
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter
Town: Bushey
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Watford
Sub registration district: Bushey
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1117
Folio: 142
Page Number: 36
Household Members:
Name Age
William Ashley 28
Annie Ashley 26
William J Ashley 7
Florence E Ashley 6
Henry R Ashley 10/12

Must be the 2nd one:

Name: Florence Sarah Ashby
Gender: Female
Christening Date: 25 Jul 1886
Christening Place: BUSHEY, HERTFORD, ENGLAND
Birth Date: 20 Apr 1886
Father's Name: William Ashby
Mother's Name: Ann
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C07222-3
System Origin: England-ODM
GS Film number: 991370
Reference ID:

Rose

In answer to the original question, yes mistakes do occur in the parish registers. Unlike marriage entries which are seen by the participants and are completed at the time, baptism records may be done some time later and would not necessarily be seen by those concerned.

To add to what KenSe has said, many people were illiterate and even if they saw the entries, they would not know if they were correct. This happened with my grandfather's marriage entry.

YES they can occur at any time because loads of people were illterate

I was looking for a marriage of one of my ancestors brothers George Edward Dartnell what a performance that was because both and his wife were illiterate and local accents played a part too

he was born in SE London but was a dock worker so moved to Chatham Kent for work He married an Elizabeth Hetreley but both were illterate so wouldnt be aware his name was put as Dartner and hers as Etterley, it must have been local accents that the registrar did his best on spellings

Assuming it was the same person, might the registered middle name of Ellen have caused a bit of Agro with the extended family or even with the parent who didn't attend?

By giving her Sarah as a baptismal name, feathers may have been smoothed :-)

Thanks for replies,helpful

Nick

On the other hand don't assume there must have been a mistake just because no other record can be found. This is a trap that is easy to fall into - I did it once and ended up wasting months researching the wrong line altogether.

and it may not even be a mistake. many a child has been baptised under one name, and registered as another, not that unusual. main cause being a relative whose name needed to be added or a change of heart about the chosen name.