Genealogical research will often ask more questions that it answers, and parish registers in particular can often omit essential information. Sixteenth and seventeenth baptismal registers in particular often do not name the mother, and sometimes even the father.
An early baptismal entry may simply give the date and "John Smith baptised". But a find by one of our researchers today asks even more! The entry gives the date of baptism, 21st November 1839, no date of birth (they are given for other entries) and simply the surname: the name of the child and parents are simply not included.
It just goes to show, that even into the nineteenth century frustrating parish register entries can still be found. In this case, it should be the case that General Registration, which began in 1837, can help fill in the gaps, where the baptismal entry is lacking.
