Introduction to the archive
St John's Anglican Church was the first protestant church founded in Argentina. Almost as soon as the first chaplain arrived, there were baptisms to be celebrated. In the early years, the Rev. John Armstrong was also called on by members of the Presbyterian, the American Methodist and the German Lutheran Churches to marry, baptise and bury members of their families. The first Scots Church minister, the Rev. William Brown, having previously worked at Monte Grande, arrived in Buenos Aires in March 1829, taking charge of the Presbyterians among the British community. It was not until September 1843 that the first German Lutheran pastor arrived in. The result is that within the baptism entries listed here, there are people from many different backgrounds.

This web page, and its continuation pages, contain the data transcribed from St John's Baptism Register Nos. 1. The presentation of the entries has been slightly recast, but essentially the information presented here is as in the original registers.

There is plenty of evidence in these pages to show that the spelling of last names had not been standardized even in the first part of the 19th century. For example, the name Barclay is also spelt Barcley and Bercley. The name McClymont is also spelt McLymont and McClement. The use of the search facility should be modified to allow for this.

Nor had the spelling of first names been standardized. Harriot, Eleonar, Christian and Jennett look strangely spelt versions to modern eyes used to Harriet, Eleanor, Christina and Janet.

In a very few cases, the spelling of last names was subsequently altered legally, and the baptism entries changed accordingly.

In the few cases where clarification is thought necessary, the regular spelling of the last name is added in square brackets, following what is written in the baptism register.