The Church of St Chad, Rochdale in the County of -- Lancashire --

Baptisms at St Chad
in the Town of Rochdale
Baptisms recorded in the Register for 1601 - 1628
Baptisms for 1617 - 1620

The writers of this register use a number of brevigraphs and abbreviated forms of names utilizing the tilde, a horizontal stroke above a word. The following surnames appear with and without abbreviation. Sheaperde, Cowper and Harper utilise the -per brevigraph so appear as Sheapde, Cowp and Harp, whilst Butterworth, Tattersall and the abbreviated forename Alex[and]er often utilise the -er brevigraph  appearing as Buttworth and Alexr and even Butterwoth. This brevigraph is always superscripted. The forenames William, Radulphi, , Richardi and Johannis are frequently found with a tilde above the name. These have been retained as Willm, Willmi, Radi, Rici, Johis, Johnis. Some surnames are likewise abbreviated with a tilde. Hardman to Hardma for example. There are a huge number of marginal notations which include outstanding sums in unpaid fees and the initials, signatures of stand-in ministers and numerous symbols, the meaning of which are unclear, such as sketches of a hand, a segmented ball or clock, fox head, various circular waterwheel-like symbols etc. All have been noted on the line they appear on, but do not necessarily relate to that entry. Some families have been singled out, notably the Chadwickes, most of whom are marked with a V in the margin. Buckleys who are local lords have full descriptive entries.
A lower case b appears in the margin to mark most base born children.

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