“1594, Nov. 17. Baptized Preserved, sonne of Roger Caffe.”—Warbleton.
Preserved Fish, whose name appeared for many years in the New York Directory, did not get his name this way. A friend of his informs me that, about eighty-five years ago, a vessel was wrecked on the New Jersey coast, and when washed ashore, a little child was discovered secured in one of the berths, the only living thing left. The finder named the boy “Preserved Fish,” and he bore it through a long and honoured life to the grave, having made for himself a good position in society.
Beloved would naturally suggest itself to grateful parents:
“1672, July 10. Buried Anne, wife of Beeloved King.”—Warbleton.
This name is also found in St. Matthew, Friday Street, London.
Joy-in-Sorrow is the story of Rachel and Benoni over again:
“1595. On the last daye of August the daughter of Edward Godman was baptized and named Joye-in-Sorrow.”—Isfield, Sussex.
Lamentation tells its own tale, unless taken from the title of one of the Old Testament books:
“Plaintiff, Lamentation Chapman: Bill to stay proceedings on a bond relating to a tenement and lands in the parish of Borden, Kent.”—“Proc. in Chancery, Eliz.,” i. 149.
We have already mentioned Safe-on-high Hopkinson, christened at Salehurst in 1591, and Help-on-high Foxe, incumbent of Lydney, Gloucester, in 1661. The former died a few days after baptism, and the event seems to have been anticipated in the name selected.