(b. 29 Sep 1893; died as a baby)
RECORD OF BAPTISM
Name recorded at Baptism: Grace Curran Born: 29 Sep 1893 Baptized: 8 Oct 1893 Parents: Thomas Curran et Maria Finan Godparents: Guilium (sp?) Payne et Maria Harper Priest: Joannes Masterson, S.J. Source: Mormon film 1612363, Item 7: Sacred Heart Church, Chicago IL,
Baptisms 1892-1897, p. 71The godmother was probably Tom’s sister, Mary Jane "Mollie" Curran Harper [DS.4.6] (age 23). If "Guilium" means William, then the godfather was probably William Patrick Payne [WM.5] (age 35), a first cousin of the father. Bill [WM.5] was the brother of Teresa Payne (McGrath) [WM.6] who always looked after Mollie for the first ten days after she had a baby.
According to our oral family history, Thomas Curran and Mary Finan had two children named Thomas and two named Mary but none named Grace. According to the census of 1900, Molly had had 7 children of whom 6 were still living. One of the living children was named Mary (b. 25 Aug 1896) but none was named Thomas. Thus, the Mary who died as a baby must have died before Aug 1896 and the Thomas who died as a baby must have died after 1 Jun 1900. After considering the spacing between the births of the other children, I concluded that the first Mary was most likely born circa 1893 and the first Thomas was most likely born circa 1901. Thus, the first Mary must have been recorded as Grace Curran when baptized. I have no comment on this confusion except to note that my mother and two of my brothers had the same problem.