“1609, Nov. 25. Baptized Fortune, daughter of Dennis Judie, and in sin begoten.”—Middleton-Cheney.
(e.) General.
There is a batch of names which was especially common, and which hardly appears to be of Puritan origin; I mean names presaging good fortune. Doubtless, however, they were at first used, in a purely spiritual sense, of the soul’s prosperity; and afterwards, by more worldly minds, were referred to the good things of this life.
Fortune became a great favourite:
“1607, Oct. 4. Baptized Fortune Gardyner.”—St. Giles, Camberwell.
“1642, ——. Baptized Fortune, daughter of Thomas Patchett.”—Ludlow, Shropshire.
“1652-3, Mch. 10. Married Mr. John Barrington and Mrs. Fortune Smith.”—St. Dionis Backchurch.
“1723, April 8. Buried Fortune Symons, aged 111 years.”—Hammersmith.
If Fortune meant fulness of years, it was attained in this last example.