Marriage Duty Act 1695

IV. Recital that many Christenings had been unduly solemnized, and that the Parents were not obliged to give Notice of Births to Parson.

Parents to give Notice of Birth of Child to Rector, &c; Penalty 40s; Rector; &c; to keep Register of Births; Penalty 40s.

And whereas diverse Children who are borne within this Kingdome are not christened according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England and many are christened in private Houses nor are the Parents of such Children obliged by the aforesaid Act to give notice to their respective Ministers of the Births of such Children for want whereof an exact Register of all Persons born is not kept and many Persons chargeable with the Duties in the said Act mentioned do thereby escape the Payment of the several Su[m]ms due to His Majesty and charged upon them by the said Act by reason of the Births of such Children For remedy whereof be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the Foure and twentieth day of June which shall be in the Yeare One thousand six hundred ninety and six the Parents of every Child which shall be att any time born after the said Day and Yeare & dureing the continuance of the said Act or one of them shall within Five Days after such Birth give notice to the respective Rector Vicar Curate or Clerk of the Parish or Place where such Child was borne of the Day of the Birth of every such Child And in case any Parent shall neglect to give such notice as aforesaid he or she shall forfeit the Su[m]m of Forty shillings one Moiety thereof to the Kings Majesty and the other Moiety to the Informer The which said Rector Vicar Curate or Clerk of the Parish or their Substitutes are hereby required dureing the continuance of the said Act to take an exact and true Account and keep a distinct Register of all and every Person or Persons so born in his or their respective Parishes or Precincts and not christned for doeing which the Parents of such Child or one of them shall pay to every such Parson Rector Vicar Curate or Clerk of the Parish the Su[m]m of Six Pence And if any such Rector Vicar Curate Parson or Minister shall refuse or neglect to keep a true Register thereof as before is directed such Parson or other Minister so offending shall forfeit the Su[m]m of Forty shillings to be recovered by such Persons and in such manner as in the said recited Act the Forfeitures therein mentioned are appointed to be recovered Any thing in the said Law contained to the contrary notwithstanding.