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Subject: [WIG] Neglected OPR entries
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 14:31:20 +1100

There are all sorts of reasons why some expected baptism or marriage
records cannot be found in the Old Parochial Registers. One possible reason
could be illness of the minister. When reading through a section of the
Whithorn OPR, I observed changes in writing that I have assumed due to
illness of the then minister, Isaac Davidson.

· Late 1806 the writing in the register starts to become sloppy.
· After entry 25 August 1810, new handwriting indicates someone else has
made the entries. Lots of previously neglected entries now start to appear.
· Back to the first hand and sloppy writing. 25 April 1808 to 2 June
1810.
· More entries in the second hand at the bottom of the page.
· Return to first hand with further deterioration of the writing. Last
entry 14 Nov 1810.
· Second hand resumes. Last entry 20 Aug 1811.
· Still the second hand, completing the page, this was written:
" N.B. There being no Minister, since the 26th
December last. The above Baptisms celebrated during the Vacancy are [acted]
in name and by appointment of the Elders of this Parish." Samuel
Carter Session Clerk.
· At the head of the next page, in a third hand,
"Register of Baptisms celebrated by the reverend Christopher
Nicholson who was ordained minister of Whithorn on the 12th day September
1811."
· The entries from here are in a new format, now including dates of both
birth and baptism.

It seems to me that the Reverend Davidson's illness, whatever it was,
caused his handwriting to get progressively worse, until he was unable to
write at all, sometime after 14th November 1810. He must have died on 26th
December 1811. His successor, Reverend Nicholson, didn't take office until
12th September 1811. The session clerk, Samuel Carter, took over the
keeping of the register when the Reverend Davidson became too ill. He also
recorded some neglected entries, presumably missed due to the illness of
Davidson. I wonder how many were missed altogether.

Bruce McDowall

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