BAPTISMS - ST MARYS SYDNEY

 
 
Sadly, to date the baptismal register of St Marys is yet to be transcribed. 
In its absence an alternative source of information is the State Archive Pioneer 
Series of births which lists 3,778 possible baptisms for this decade, although 
89 refer to children born before 1831 and at least 51 refer to adults, plus 213 
performed after 1840 for children born between the years 1831 and 1840. This is an
extraordinarily large number, being on average almost one baptism every day
for every day of the decade.
 
There were three separate files of St Mary's baptisms. Firstly St Marys itself (SMS)
which recorded 2,920 baptisms but with only 13 for 1839 and 11 for 1840. Secondly 
Sydney Catholic Parishes (unspecified)(SYDR) which recorded 595 baptisms commencing 
in 1839 (plus 332 which were duplicates for St James). Thirdly a mysterious St James 
Sydney Catholic Parish (SJSR) which recorded 583 baptisms starting in 1840. There appears 
to be no historical evidence to supportthe existance of this parish and is assumed to be 
an error for St Marys. The low number of 55 for the year 1838 is obviously an aboration. 
 
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.
 
Thus information missing from the parish baptismal register includes five 
extra items:
 
 date of baptism 
 date of birth
 abode
 father's quality or profession 
 officiating minister
 
Also missing from this list, without further and extensive personal research, 
are the final seven extra items of information which this work normally endeavours 
to include and which makes this work so valuable:
 
 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 
 
The list is presented in reference number order.
 
Assuming listing the mother's surname indicates she was not married to 
the child's father, only 52 of the births were illegitimate.
 
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 (%).
 
Entries on this list have the reference identifier "SMS" or "SYDR" or "SJSR" 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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