BAPTISMS - EBENEZER KIRK PORTLAND HEAD

 
 
Sadly, to date the baptismal register of this kirk is yet to be transcribed. 
In its absence an alternative source of information is the State Archive Pioneer 
Series of births which lists 112 possible baptisms for this decade, although 4 refer 
to children born before 1831 plus 2 performed after 1840 for children born between 
the years 1831 and 1840. On average there was about one baptism performed per month 
over the decade.
 
Regrettably the State Archive records contain less information than the church 
register, just seven items:
 
 year of birth
 child's Christian name(s)
 father's family name 
 father's Christian name(s) 
 mother's maiden name (for illegitimate births only)
 mother's Christian name(s)
 reference number
 
Unlike the Anglican parishes, the reference volume number gives no indication as to
the year of baptism, however following the sequence of the reference order numbers a
reasonable estimate can be made.
 
However as a result of extensive personal research the following ten extra items have
been discovered for many of the entries:
 
 date of birth
 father's year & ship of arrival in the colony 
 father's status upon arrival in the colony 
 mother's year & ship of arrival in the colony
 mother's status upon arrival in the colony
 parents' civil status at the time of the child's birth
 parents' marital status at the time of the child's birth
 parents' year & country/church of marriage where applicable 
 place of birth
 father's quality or profession 
 
The list is presented in reference number order.
 
Baptisms relating to births prior to 1831 are indicated with a hash sign 
(#), duplicate baptisms are indicated with an asterix (*) and baptisms for 
children born at sea with a percent sign (%).
 
With regard to the fathers 79% have been identified.
 
Thirty six two were colonial born plus 21 were childhood arrivals,
combined making up 50% of the total; 23 were emancipists (20%) 
and ten arrived free in the colony (9%).
 
With regard to the mothers 81% have been identified.
 
Sixty eight were colonial born plus eight were childhood arrivals,
combined making up 67% of the total; seven were convicts or former 
convicts (6%) and nine arrived free in the colony (8%).
 
Only eight of the births were found to be illegitimate. 
 
Entries on this list have the reference identifier "EKPH" on Lists 1 & 2. To 
locate an entry on this list; firstly an alphabetical search on the name would 
be made on Lists 1 or 2 from which the reference number would be retrieved, 
secondly using the appropriate number, the entry would be located.

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