What do these initials mean in this Presbyterian Church record?

Question

I am researching my Delaware ancestors, and this FamilySearch source lists baptisms. After most of the entries there are initials, either I. R. or C. S.

Does anyone know what these initials mean?

"Maryland, Church Records, 1668-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLF-Y2CY : 19 May 2023), Jno Dutton in entry for James Dutton, ; citing Birth, Wicomico, Maryland, United States, multiple denominations and churches, Maryland; FHL microfilm .

Comments

Possibly two different churches in the parish?

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Looking through the film, many of the later entries have the name of the minister baptizing the child, perhaps earlier entries are just the initials of the minister.

Answer 1

I looked through some other nearby pages, and I believe that the initials correspond to the area in which the person lived or church that they belonged to. I.R. would stand for Indian River, and C.S. would stand for Cool Spring. Other areas/churches with shorter names are spelled out, such as Lewes and Rehoboth, as you can see on previous pages. In addition, you list the birthplace of John Dutton as Broadkiln Hundred. This was a latter spelling of the name. At the time of his birth, the area was known as Broadkill Hundred. It was changed in 1833 to Broadkiln, although it is still referred to as Broadkill Hundred as well.

Comments

This makes more sense than initials assumption.

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Hi George,

I updated my answer to suggest that the initials may also refer to the church in that area as I think that may be more likely.

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I think you are correct, Mack.  It is difficult to tell though, since this is a typescript of records.  If it were the actual handwritten record, I would remind everyone looking at these old records, that paper and ink were quite expensive (in relative terms) and initials were used to conserve both.  Since it's a typescript -- it may have been that the original pages were labeled with the location name (or/and the clergymans' name) and the typist when combining the records preserved some of the information.

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Thanks for the suggestions. The church seems to be Lewes Presbyterian Church (still existing). Indian River and Cool Spring are the names of rivers near Lewes. It seems likely that the church drew it's congregation from a wide area, including settlements along those rivers.

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Hi Susan,

I didn't look at the whole archive, but in addition to the Lewes Presbyterian Church, there has been a Cool Spring Presbyterian Church since 1726 (https://www.coolspringchurch.org/). Also, I found this link indicating that there was a Presbyterian Church at Indian River as well (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/273947?availability=Family%20History%20Library). The church was founded circa 1730 and was probably dissolved circa 1866 (https://deahgp.genealogyvillage.com/sussex/indian_river_hundred_sussex_county_delaware.html).