“One babe, who was found in the vestibule of the City Hall, in this city (New York), was called John City Hall; another, Thomas Fulton, was found in Fulton Street in an ash-box; and a third, a fine boy of about four months, was left in the porch of Christ Church Rectory in Brooklyn. He was baptized by the name of Parish Church, by the Rev. Dr. Canfeild, the then rector.”
“One babe, who was found in the vestibule of the City Hall, in this city (New York), was called John City Hall; another, Thomas Fulton, was found in Fulton Street in an ash-box; and a third, a fine boy of about four months, was left in the porch of Christ Church Rectory in Brooklyn. He was baptized by the name of Parish Church, by the Rev. Dr. Canfeild, the then rector.”
The baptisms of “blackamoors” gave a double christian name, although the second was counted as a surname:
“Baptized, 1695, Mch. 27, John Wearmouth, a Tawny, taken captive, aged 20.”—Bishop Wearmouth (Burns).“Baptized, 1602-3, March, Christian Ethiopia, borne a Blackmore.”—Stepney.“Baptized, 1603, July, Charity Lucanoa, a Blackamor from Ratcliff.”—Ditto.“1744, Sep. 27. Rum John Pritchard, a Indian and Mahomitan, baptized this day by self at Mr. Pritchard’s.”—Fleet Registers (Burns).“1717, ——. Baptized Charles Mustava, a black boy, servant to The Honble. Lord Hartford.”—Preshute, Wilts.
“Baptized, 1695, Mch. 27, John Wearmouth, a Tawny, taken captive, aged 20.”—Bishop Wearmouth (Burns).
“Baptized, 1602-3, March, Christian Ethiopia, borne a Blackmore.”—Stepney.
“Baptized, 1603, July, Charity Lucanoa, a Blackamor from Ratcliff.”—Ditto.
“1744, Sep. 27. Rum John Pritchard, a Indian and Mahomitan, baptized this day by self at Mr. Pritchard’s.”—Fleet Registers (Burns).
“1717, ——. Baptized Charles Mustava, a black boy, servant to The Honble. Lord Hartford.”—Preshute, Wilts.
Our forefathers did not seem to perceive it, but in all these cases double baptismal names were given. It must, however, have had its unfelt influence in leading up to the new custom, and especially to patronymics as second names. We are all now familiarized to these double and treble names. The poorest and the most abject creatures that bring a child to the font will have their string of grand and high-sounding titles; sometimes such a mouthful, that the parson’s wonder is excited whence they accumulated them, till wonder is lost in apprehension lest he should fail to deliver himself of them correctly. The difficulty is increased when the name is pronounced as the fancy or education of the sponsor dictates. When one of three names is “Hugginy,” the minister may be excused if he fails to understand all at once that “Eugénie” is intended. Such an incident occurred about six years ago, and the flustered parson, on a second inquiry, was not helped by the woman’s rejoinder: “Yes, Hugginy; the way ladies does their ’air, you know.”
We must confess we are not anxious to see the new custom—for new it is in reality—spread; but we fear much it will do so. We have reached the stage when three baptismal names are almost as common as two; and we cannot but foresee, ifthis goes on, that, before the century is out, our present vestry-books will be compelled to have the space allotted to the font names enlarged. As it is, the parson is often at his wits’ end how to set it down.
INDEX.