Can anyone decipher the baptismal date on this parish record for Gulbrand Saxesen Huusmoe?

Question

I've not seen dates in this format before. Gulbrand is the 10th name down on the left side. It looks like  the top number may be the birth date and the bottom number the baptismal date. My guess is 18 Apr 1799 for the birth date and 24 Apr for the baptismal date. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7652/38704/92

Comments

I read birth 18th and baptism 24th March 1799.
Introduction 28th April (typically about 5-6 weeks after birth)

Both 24 th March and 28th April were Sundays.

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Hi Aksel, the more I look at this I am inclined to agree with you, especially if one looks at the pages prior and after. There are instances where he appears to be indicating the birth on the top number and the baptism on the bottom. Please see my response to Leif below. Thanks for your information about the Introduction and good point about the Sundays. (I looked that up too.)

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Hei

Gulbrand Saksesen Husmo(e) was born 1799 - 03-08 - and baptism 1799-03-24. - Hes parents were Sakse Paulsen Husmo(e) and Kari Andersdatter. Hes godparents were - Lisbeth Funni - Ane Husmo(e) -  Ole Hunstad - and Erik Husmo(e). Regard from Kari

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It is not absolutely certain whether the church record says 8 or 18  March as date of birth, but I see it as 18.

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It seems that something is not right with the baptism dates here, Gulbrand Saxesen, baptized 24th March, on a Sunday! The one before him, Ole Gulbrandsen Korsdalen, born 13th march is baptizied 25th March, and the first after him Jon Jonsen Vøyeneie is born 20th March baptized 25th March. And then come Søren Sørensen Børgeneie as BORN 8th of March - baptized 25th March. I mean it is unlikely that the same church had infant baptism both on a Sunday and Monday - Did the priest mix up the mnd,s ? Should the 25 have been April?.

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In 1799 24 March was Easter, so 25th was Easter Monday

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I noticed the 25th dates as well, and thought that was strange. I see Gulbrand's birthdate as the 18th, not the 8th. Kari and Aksel, thanks for looking at this. I definitely thought it was strange. Would a church baptize on Easter Monday?

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It was perfectly normal to baptise on Easter Monday, which has always been a holiday in Norway. Until 1770, Easter Tuesday was a holiday, too.

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Interesting. Thanks for that info.

Answer 1

I've transcribed more than a dozen 18th century Norwegian church books, but this one is peculiar. If we start at the top of the page, there's a line between names of the child and the parents, and the names of the witnesses below the line. This is unusual and confusing. The first date on the page is 31 March and seems to belong to the baptism of Anders on the line above. The next date is 7 April and is for Ingebreth, and is repeated for the next one who is Peder. Then there is an introduction (churching) of Marte Nielsdatter Rotnæs after a stillborn child.

Following this pattern, I think the date below the line, 28 April, is the date for the baptism of Gulbrand. The previous date some lines above is 21 March, and seems to be the day that Ole and Olia were baptised.

There's nothing here that looks like a birth date, and it didn't become mandatory to record the birtth date until 1811. When there's a second date, it's usually the introduction or churching date for the mother.

Comments

It's interesting if you go back to 1798, there is clearly no birthdate. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7652/38704/89

But if you look at the page following on the right hand side, for Ole and Anne Gurine for example, it appears he is writing fod and dob above and below. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7652/38704/93

Then the last page his system seems to totally fall apart, but you can find both birth and baptismal dates. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7652/38704/94

What do you think?

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Yes, but that is obviously a new pastor who decided to record the birth dates. It's not uncommon to find birth dates in late 18th century church books, but they weren't required.

Answer 2

It appears to me the date is in the box above (21st Marz???) and the entries for #10 are the hour and minute.  But, someone with familiarity with Norwegien Church Books could tell you different.

Comments

Thanks, Rick, for taking a look. Judging from the 3rd and 4th entries on the page, I'm still thinking the top number is the birth date and the bottom number the baptismal date. Hard to tell though if Gulbrand is still in March or in April. Now I'm sort of leaning toward March.