Re: confirmations, baptisms & expuestos

[Gloria <gloriad@...>]

To add a note to the conversation about confirmations - I've read hundreds of confirmation records, both in Mexico and Puerto Rico, and they are not usually worth reading unless you're really desperate.  Most list no dates and no parents, and give just the child's name and the padrinos.  

And as for the expuestos, I've come across several who were expuesto en la casa de Don So and So; and I've found them being married 20 years later or included in a will, and listed as Don or Doñã -- hijo/hija natural de, or hijo/hija reconocido de ---, the natural children of the son or daughter or of the master of the house, but unacknowledged at the time of birth because, for people of a certain social status, to have a child out of wedlock wasn't socially unacceptable. 

I've come across several reference to baptisms in Mexico of children over three months old, and the priest explained in the record that the delay was caused by the fact that the rivers were so high that it prevented the child from being brought to the church for baptism in a timely manner.  He said something about the time limit, but wouldn't you know I can't find that note right now and I don't remember what the time limit was, but it was a matter of weeks.  

I've found only one child, Jose Victoriano RADILLO born en este Villa de Autlan Aug 1834 and baptized Oct 1836.  The priest specifically states that he was 2 years, 2 months old, and an hijo natural of Jesus RADILLO.  This is the ONLY case of a deliberately delayed Baptism I've ever come across.  Perhaps he was hidden away, or sick, or even dying so they finally baptized him?  I've often wondered, but never found him later. 

Gloria Delgado