No doubt this diminution must be attributed partly to the spread
of Nonconformity; but I believe that during the Protectorate, the
registration of _births_ was substituted for that of _baptisms_, and
therefore the state of religious feeling which then prevailed bears
less directly on the question. And even after the Restoration the
register exhibits but a small increase in the number of baptisms. For
the various periods of twenty years from that event up to 1760, the
numbers range from 152 to 195. And pursuing the inquiry, I find that
the number of marriages, for any given time, varies consistently with
that of baptisms. If any of your reader can clear up the difficulty, I
shall feel much obliged for any information which may tend to do so.
Are the following extracts from the register above referred to of
sufficient interest to merit your acceptance?
"1648.--Richard, the son of George Juxon, gent., and Sarah, his wife,
who was slayne 1 Junii at Maydestone Fight, was buryed on the third
daye of June, anno predicto.
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