In 1600s, is the date of birth and christening the same?

Question

Some dates of birth are not available, yet there is a christening date with a similar or close to the time of birth.

Answer 1

No, in that period, in England, if it was a Church of England baptism, it was most probably fairly soon after birth but not normally on the day of birth. (next century and after you quite often get months or years delay before baptism). Sometimes when a baby was sickly and might not survive, they  were baptised at home on the day of birth, (the register then usually says something like privately baptised, publickly admitted). Very occassionally birth and baptism.dates are given in registers

 The reference 'English Births and Christenings ' wasn't specific. I've improved that and changed certain to before.  The 'source' is just an index we can't be certain whether or not there is anything in the actual. register to tell us more.

Answer 2

Hi Karen,

You enter those baptism dates and click the button just beneath, which says 'before'.  That's all you can do. (Because, after all, they had to be born before they could be baptised).

They same you must do with date of death and burial date, because a person died before getting burried.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:Christening%2C_Baptism%2C_and_Burial_Fields