Baptisms: "bet. alt." abbreviation

[Linda Reiersgard]

Many baptism records for the year 1707 in  Nes parish show "bet. alt." at the end of a record.  What are these words? 

Thanks for any help with this.

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070314640428

[Richard Johan Natvig]

Probably: "Betalt alt", paid all, paid in full, i.e. the fee due to the priest for the church service had been paid. See http://www.genealogi.no/wiki/index.php/Aksidenser

 

[Ivar S. Ertesvåg]

This is apparently a "code" that the clergy has inserted for his own information; thus not clearly understandible for anyone else.

Moreover, there are some sections written by another hand - possibly a chaplain - where these notes are missing.

 

An observation is that the notes varies a little; "bet. alt", "b. a.", "bet. 16s bet. alt." etc.

My estimate is that this is an account of payment of the fee to the vicar for the baptism.

 

According to law (Christian Vs Norske Lov, 1687) http://www.hf.uio.no/iakh/tjenester/kunnskap/samlinger/tingbok/kilder/chr5web/chr5_02_12.html

(art. 7) the fee was 16 skilling for baptism and also for "introduction" of the mother.

 

For some reason, similar notes are not made for engagements and marriages (burials were free, unless the relatives requested more than just the ceremony)

 

[Linda Reiersgard]

Thanks for your answer and the link to the law.  It is exactly what I needed to know, also about the variations of "bet. alt."