The majority of people in the 18th Century were agricultural labourers. Even in 1850 50% were still so despite the industrial revolution.

An ag. lab. in the 18th Century, typically earned 10 shillings per week. A soldier a shilling a day, 'The King's shilling' and there were deductions. RN sailors were probably the same.

My GGGGrandfather died in 1749 aged about 34. His burial was not recorded in the parish register. However, in the records of the 'Overseers Assessments & Disbursements' the following record says 'Coffin and shroud for John Griffiths 10 shillings'. A weeks earnings for an ag. lab. People then had to be buried in woollen shrouds by Law.

The financial cost of having a child for the devout appears to have been relatively high - paying for both the churching of the mother and then also the Baptism. I assume it would have been common practice to have both ceremonies performed.

Were records kept of the churching of women? This would be another interesting lead into birth dates.

Bream Chapel Rates at the time- Oct 1820 :

Burial of Parishioner 2s 6d
Burial of Forrester 6s 10d
Burial from another parish 15s 6d
Headstone 10s 6d
Tomb or Flatstone £1 1s 0d
Brick Grave £1 1s 0d
Burial in Chapel £10 10s 0d
Monument in Chapel £5 5s 0d
Churching of a Woman 1s 6d

In 2010, £1 0s 0d from 1820 is worth

£62.30 using the retail price index

£710.00 using average earnings

Burial of Parishioner approx £90.00
Burial of Forrester approx £240.00
Burial from another parish approx £540.00
Headstone approx £370.00
Tomb or Flatstone approx £750.00
Brick Grave approx £750.00
Burial in Chapel approx £7500.00
Monument in Chapel approx £3800.00
Churching of a Woman approx £55.00

"Churching of a Woman" intrigued me and I asked my mother about it. She answered that her own mother had asked her whether she had been "churched" following the birth of her children.

You will find it in the Bible.

Jim Aahton

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=19789

Bream Chapel Rates at the time- Oct 1820 :
Burial of Parishioner 2s 6d
Burial of Forrester 6s 10d
Burial from another parish 15s 6d
Headstone 10s 6d
Tomb or Flatstone £1 1s 0d
Brick Grave £1 1s 0d
Burial in Chapel £10 10s 0d
Monument in Chapel £5 5s 0d
Churching of a Woman 1s 6d

You will note that rates for parishioners varied from Forresters and those from another parish.

"Churching of a Woman" intrigued me and I asked my mother about it. She answered that her own mother had asked her whether she had been "churched" following the birth of her children.

You will find it in the Bible.

Jim Aahton

I have found the 'Baptismal Fees Abolition Act 1872' that made it 'unlawful to demand any Fee or Reward for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, or the Registry thereof'.

I can't seem to find what it may have cost prior to 1872, however, so any help would be appreciated.

I am trying to glean a better understanding of how difficult it may have been for families whose sole income came from the head of the family being a lime burner, labourer, farm labourer, wagoneer etc.

Presumably, the larger the family for the poorly paid workers, the less likely it was that they could afford to have all the children Baptised.

Or was religion so strong that people would make considerable financial sacrifice to ensure their children were Baptised?

Thanks in advance.