Dublin.
_Reynolds (Sir Joshua's) Baptism._--I have been favoured by the incumbent
of Plympton S. Maurice with a copy of the following entry in the Register
of Baptisms of that parish, together with the appended note; which, if the
fact be not generally known, may be of interest to your correspondent A. Z.
(Vol. viii., p. 102.) as well as to others among the readers of "N. & Q.":
"1723. Joseph, son of Samuel Reynolds, clerk, baptised July the 30th."
On another page is the following memorandum:
"In the entry of baptisms for the year 1723, the person by mistake
named _Joseph_, son of Samuel Reynolds, clerk, baptized July 30th, was
_Joshua_ Reynolds, the celebrated painter, who died February 23, 1792."
Samuel Reynolds, the father, was master of Plympton Grammar School from
about 1715 to 1745, in which year he died. During that period his name
appears once in the parish book, in the year 1742, as "minister for the
time being" (not incumbent of the parish): the Rev. Geo. Langworthy having
been the incumbent from 1736 to 1745, both inclusive.
Query, Was Sir Joshua by mistake _baptized Joseph_? or was the mistake made
after baptism, in _registering the name_?