"fil" in baptism record?

[Sue from Southend]

Thomas and Joan Bown are baptised 9 Apr 1798 in Horsley, Gloucs. With no date of birth -
http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/4732/41511_633870_3806-00014/1220349?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk %2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dGloucBMDearly%26rank%3d1%26ne w%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d1%26gss%3dms_r_db%26gsfn_x %3dXO%26gsln%3dbown%26gsln_x%3dXO%26msbdy%3d1795%2 6msfng0%3ddaniel%26msmng0%3dhannah%26dbOnly%3d_C00 0000F%257c_C000000F_x%26uidh%3dzs8%26msbdp%3d10&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults
They are bracketed together with the word "fil". I assumed that they were twins but on the previous page twins are noted as such. Other baptisms on these two pages show two children bracketed together and dates of birth noted and in another example three children bracketed together with "fil" and no d.o.b.

So do we think that Thomas and Joan are twins or just siblings baptised by an inconsistent Vicar?

[kiterunner]

Fil just means child or children.

[ElizabethHerts]

I agree with Kate, Sue. It just means they were children of Daniel and Hannah.

[Sue from Southend]

Thanks Kite and Elizabeth.

It's the bracketing together that's confusing the issue for me as the minister uses different terminology each time he uses the brackets! The single baptisms are all given as "son of" or "daughter of" and I assume that by using the brackets he saved time by just using "fil" when baptising siblings. I just wish he'd put birth dates for Thomas and Joan as he did for some others :rolleyes: