Chrisom and Creature People

Baptisms and Burials of Creature and Chrisom People.

Babies not expected to live in the sixteenth-century where often baptised by midwives and were called 'Creature' or 'creatura Christi'  One such entry is 'Creature Selark' baptised in March 1599 in Over Stowey, Somerset.

Burial for Creature Selark - Over Stowey, Somerset - 1599

Another burial entry lists a 'Creature Winball' buried January 1737 in Dodington, Somerset.  She is listed as a widow so one might assume she was expected to die as a child but survived.

Burial for Creature Winball - Dodinton, Somerset - 1737

Another oddity in burial records is the term 'Chrisom' child.  A 'Chrisom' child was one who had been baptised, but whose mother had not yet been accepted into the church.  The term was sometimes used for unbaptised babies.

Two burial entries in Martock 1639 reads:
A Chrisomer of Edward? Byshops? buried 28th
John Newton was buried 31st
A Chrisom of William Gulliford? bur. the same day.

Martock, Somerset Burials - 1639

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