Biby PHELPS b1849 Ruspidge (Cinderford St Johns area) (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Thursday, September 15, 2011, 14:11 (4825 days ago) @ SCATTERBRAIN

Re Biby Phelps' Baptism,
as I'm sure you know this Record clearly shows Biby was born out of wedlock, to a father surnamed Phelps. At least it's rather more pleasantly recorded than some of my forefathers who were (literally) marked-down as "base-born" !.

It seems entirely plausible to me on face value that if George(convict) was indeed Biby's father, then after he was convicted/transported mother Hannah would want to get Biby baptised, especially if she had separated from George emotionally as well as physically.
If George was the father, Biby must have been born some years before 1849. I cannot find another, earlier Baptism for Biby nearer her actual birthdate, either with or without George clearly mentioned. Then again if he and the family name were being dragged thro' the Courts its quite reasonable Biby wasn't Baptised earlier in her life, not that she would have to be by law etc of course.

I don't know the meaning of the name Biby wrt English names (it sounds Indian?) and I haven't seen it's use before in my studies around the FoDFH database. I wonder if it's an abbreviation, such as Libby for Elizabeth, if it is knowing the origin might help find a possible earlier Baptism which might clarify things. It doesnt help of course that Hannah/Anna is a commonplace name too.

I have seen it as a surname eg Bibey, perhaps this is a clue?. Re the name Biby as a surname, within the FoDFH database there are hundreds of Bibeys, Bibee, etc etc. The vast majority are from the northern & western parts of the Fod towards Ross or Christchurch, with none whatsoever in "our" Cinderford/Littledean area except this one startling exception, and another William too.
Could this be a relation I wonder ? Probably not but perhaps relevant ?

Record_ID: 54906
Entry_Number: 272
Year: 1873
Month: Jun
Day: 8
Surname: BIBEY
Forenames: William Henry
Residence: Little Dean Hill
Age_at_death: 3 years
Officiating_Minister: Arthur E.Hile
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/13
Page_No: 34
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John
Soundex: B100

If anyone can shed any more light on the name "Biby" I'd be gratefull, please.