As I transcribe the Composite Register for Farnborough in Kent I have encountered several clergy treatments of illegitimate children's baptisms.
It is a rare treatment to describe a child born out of wedlock as " a come-by-chance" but on 25 January 1690/1 John Green was baptised and is so described in the baptismal entry.
The register in earlier and later years applies the terms "base born" and bastard child but I appreciate an entry in an earlier period which is in Latin to conceal the child's status. Familiarity with nuanced Latin identifying both parents and illegitimacy would ensure that no parishioner would be able to read the entry!
I also encountered how clergy unfamiliar with a strong local pronunciation could render George as "Jarg" and produce Mare for Mary and Haner for Hannah in 1690's Farnborough. This period results in some well established surnames in the parish and register undergoing variation in spelling Budgen becomes Budging; Jeale becomes Jail .
Hopefully the transcript presentation at Kent Online Parish Clerks in due course will aid searchers to locate families despite such challenges.
© Henry Mantell Downe Online Parish Clerk 2013-2018
