[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] godparents and witnesses to baptisms

[Otto]

Morning Everyone,

My personal observations:
'Witnesses' to an event
could be relatives, friends, clan members, or simply the next door  
neighbors. Proximity undoubtedly played a big part in this act. Some  
records evidence a 'history consciousness' on the part of the group  
by a handful of witnesses being present. -Recognition of the the act  
of being written into the document as a historical moment. Some would  
even choose to sign the documents in their own hand.  Little else was  
available to them before the passing of time devoured all.  All of  
this is beneficial in research, remember the 'cluster effect'.

"Godparents" played more of a direct physical role if future events  
deemed it so:
1. Accepting the position obligated the 'surrogate parents', in case  
of death of the birth parents, to educate the child in the birth  
parents religious belief structure.

2. Our forefathers, being a practical group, possessed of sound mind,  
may have considered this a reason to be considered first in  
importance.  The raising of the child to adulthood in case of loss of  
the birth parents. The chosen godparents would have to be adult and  
mature, they were not coerced or intimidated to accept the position,  
and most of all, were financially secure enough to carry out their  
responsibilities. Based on the foregoing and and the self-evidenced  
principle, "blood is thicker than water", there is likely chance of  
the godparents being part of the immediate bloodline. Ask yourself,  
Who would you entrust to raise your child, relatives or just  
neighbors? My parents would select relatives, 'well-heeled'  
relatives, for the position.



. . .  Otto

                      " The Zen moment..." wk. of March 5, 2006
                      ________________________________
                         "Remove what isn't... What is remains."