I located the image of the baptismal record for Leonor Torres Benavides, (8
Dec 1661, Nochistlan, image 210) and I see a cross over her name, and a few
others on the same page. I've not noticed this before. The arms of the
cross are the same length. Does this mean they died at birth?
I had asked this same question some time ago. Like you I had originally thought that this mark was for a person who had died at some point. If the child had died a birth (or was stillborn), he or she would not have been baptized, as only a living person could have been baptized.
Bill Figueroa provided the following reply to my query:
The cross or plus sign in early records of Aguascalientes is merely a check
mark to indicate whether the person was "español" and not of mixed race.
The explanation is noted in one of the first record books, I don't remember
which one. The cross was used for several years, until the priest or his
assistant started noting the race or caste as "espl." "indio" "mestizo"
"negro" "mulato" etc. In some baptismal records the priest wrote "que dicen
ser español", probably because the color of the child's skin indicated
otherwise, but in general the priest knew his parishioners and probably
their racial background. I have no doubt that some errors were made, but in
general the markings are accurate.
Thanks so much for your response. I had hoped that something like that was
the case since I later found the same mark over the name of the person I
thought was my ancestor.
Markinbgs on early baptism records
Raquel
I had asked this same question some time ago. Like you I had originally thought that this mark was for a person who had died at some point. If the child had died a birth (or was stillborn), he or she would not have been baptized, as only a living person could have been baptized.
Bill Figueroa provided the following reply to my query:
The cross or plus sign in early records of Aguascalientes is merely a check
mark to indicate whether the person was "español" and not of mixed race.
The explanation is noted in one of the first record books, I don't remember
which one. The cross was used for several years, until the priest or his
assistant started noting the race or caste as "espl." "indio" "mestizo"
"negro" "mulato" etc. In some baptismal records the priest wrote "que dicen
ser español", probably because the color of the child's skin indicated
otherwise, but in general the priest knew his parishioners and probably
their racial background. I have no doubt that some errors were made, but in
general the markings are accurate.
George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA
Markinbgs on early baptism records
Thanks so much for your response. I had hoped that something like that was
the case since I later found the same mark over the name of the person I
thought was my ancestor.
Raquel Ruiz
Massachusettls
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