This image is a good example of what not to do. I made the paper copies years ago from a microfilm copy of the church records of the Bethany United Church of Christ in Tioga, Hancock County, Illinois.

The entries below are for two first cousins, Anna Maria and Franciska Trautvetter–children of Michael and Franciska (Bieger) Trautvetter and George Adolph and Anna (Schildmann) Trautvetter, respectively. Anna was born in 1879 and Franciska was born in 1878. Anna was the Godmother of Anna Marie Trautvetter and Franciska was the Godmother of Franciska Trautvetter.

When I made the paper copy, I did not apparently notice that the second baptism contained a date of birth only and not a date for the actual baptism, which is noted in the other entries.

I wish I had copied the next page of entries to see when the next baptism was. I also wish I knew how regularly the Trautvetters attended church. At this point, what I know is that Anna (Schildmann) Trautvetter would have been present at the baptism of Anna Maria Trautvetter and Franciska (Bieger) Trautvetter would have been present at the baptism of Franciska Trautvetter–in addition to having been present at the own child’s baptism.

My speculation is that the cousins were baptized on the same day.

But we may never know–even if I had the next page, the next baptism may have been in 1879 and that would not tell me whether these two baptisms were on the same day or not.