Blanchard Family 1530s: 52 Ancestors Prompt “Water”

Holy Water:

The Baptisms of the Children of Thomas and Elizabeth Blanchard

            My tenth-great-grandfather Thomas Blanchard was a yeoman near the Hampshire village of Goodworth Clatford. There are no records of his birth or his marriage to first wife Elizabeth. It is believed that he was born sometime between 1590 and 1600, and that the couple married before their first son George was born around 1620. However, we can verify his other six childrens’ births through parish baptism or christening records from St. Peter Church in Goodworth Clatford.

            According to the parish records contained on FamilySearch, Thomas’s son Thomas was christened on October 12, 1623. Two years later daughter Mary was christened on January 15, 1625. Next was Steven, June 22, 1628, followed by my ninth-great-grandfather Samuel Blanchard, christened on August 30, 1629. The last two sons, Nathaniell and David, were christened on July 22, 1631 and February 2, 1633.  

 

My ancestor Samuel Blanchard's christening record

            I was very excited to discover that the church where the children were christened still stands in Goodworth Clatford. St. Peter’s Church has existed in various configurations since the 12^th century. By the 1600s, it looked very similar to the church today; the diagram shows that only the organ area was added in the modern era.

            Even more exciting, the baptism font where Thomas’ infants were christened with holy water is still there, and still in use. The font dates to the Norman era, and is a table style font made of Purbeck marble, with six flat arches carved on one side of the tabular section, and the other three sides featuring pairs of celtic-knot shaped crosses. How amazing to see the photos of the church and font, and to imagine my ancestors standing before the font and gazing up at the altar.

Front of Font

            According to Buckingham Vintage’s article on the history of christening clothes, in the 17^th century the church required infants to be immersed in the water of the font, quite different from the modern practice of dribbling the water on the baby’s head. Infants wore their swaddling clothes, and occasionally had special lace covering draped over the swaddling clothes. I wonder what my 9^th great-grandfather Samuel Blanchard wore in 1629? Did he cry in shock at being immersed? At least he was baptized during the height of summer, so he wouldn’t have become chilled.

Side of font

            By 1638, Elizabeth Blanchard was dead, and Thomas had remarried a widow named Agnes Bent Barnes. Thomas and Agnes’ first child, also named Agnes, was the last of Thomas’ children to be christened at St. Peter’s. Agnes’ brother, John Bent, had moved to Massachusetts, and persuaded Thomas, Agnes and Agnes’ mother to emigrate and join him in the New World. 1639 found the Blanchard family living in London, waiting to set sail over yet more water.  

            I hope to someday visit England. Perhaps I’ll be able to stop in Goodworth Clatford and stand in St. Peter’s church in front of that ancient baptismal font, separated from my ninth and tenth great-grandfathers only by four hundred years of time.

Sources:

A Brief Illustrated History of Christening & Baptism Clothes – Swaddling, Bearing Cloths, Gowns & Dresses by Buckingham Vintage, http://www.buckinghamvintage.co.uk/

https://blanchardfamilyhistory.org/content.php?id=2

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/k/e/l/Roger-F-Kelley/GENE3-0001.html

https://ancestorsinaprons.com/tag/thomas-blanchard/