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Archiver > TMG > 1999-06 > 0930811409-01


From: <A HREF="mailto:"></A> (Leif B. Kristensen)
Subject: TMG-L: Birth/Death vs. Baptism/Burial (Was: Thanks, plus 1 more Q (was Questions from one investigating TMG))
Date: Thu, 01 Jul 1999 06:43:29 GMT


On Thu, 1 Jul 1999 01:27:03 EDT, wrote:

>I understand your problem, my French-Canadians very seldom were born or died
><VBG> they were only baptized and buried. We discussed this on the list some
>time ago and some people had some interesting work-arounds. I decided I had
>too many people entered to change methods. I feel using christening and/or
>burial in place of death can be too misleading. A baptism can take place
>months/years after birth and a burial if the death was in the frozen winter
>also may take place much later.

I have exactly the same situation with my Norwegian ancestors: Until
around 1811, I usually have only the baptism and burial dates.

At least in Norway in the 18th century, baptism took place within a
week, ie. on the first Sunday following birth. I have a lot of positive
evidence for this; babies who died two weeks old have invariably been
baptised in church. (Sometimes I suspect that this is the actual cause
of their untimely death; newborn children probably shouldn't be dragged
out in the Norwegian midwinter.)

One common practice here in Norway is to state the year only of birth
and death, when the date isn't exactly known, and I tend to follow that
practice. It also makes it easy to record the place of birth and death,
which for all practical purposes, if nothing else is stated, may be
considered to have taken place at home. Thus, I record Ole Pedersen
Tveitan's child Anne, baptised on Easter Day 1724, as born on the
Tveitan farm in 1724. Then I enter the baptism on the date it took place
as a separate event. The primary event, however, is the birth event. My
method of recording death/burial is identical.

I'd like to hear further comments on this.

regards,
- --
Leif Biberg Kristensen | Network Manager,
Nils Kirkeruds vei 8 B | PC and Genealogy Addict
N-1339 V&Oslash;YENENGA, NORWAY | Researching Solum, Telemark
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