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Peffer Family Baptism Gown

Mike Bailey

May 12th, 2004

When planning began for Griffin's Baptism, I had this assumption in the back of my mind that he would wear this gown that had been used on my Mother's side of the family for every child I can remember.  I've always referred to it as the Peffer Baptism Gown after my Maternal Great-Grandmother.  I ended up learning much more about the history of the gown just before Griffin's baptism on May 9th. 

It was made by Madame Pierre Grignon, born in Montreal Canada in 1843.  She is the Grandmother of my Great Grandma Peffer whom I referred above. Madame Grignon(I can't find her first name anywhere) made this beautiful Baptismal Gown in 1864.  By all estimates, Griffin is the 85th child to wear the gown in 140 years and is the first member of the sixth Generation of descendants to continue the tradition.  In 1954, the gown was entered in the Home Activities competition at the Minnesota State Fair.  It came in second place!

There are over 4700 eyelits sown by hand covering the gown.  There is a matching under garment that is now too fragile to be warn by a child.  For Griffin's ceremony, he wore a new Baptismal Romper made from Irish linen given by his Maternal Grandmother, Jeanne Crimmins, to begin a new tradition for that side of the family.  The Peffer Gown was laid over him for the final presentation at the Baptism itself and then again only for pictures at the party that followed.

In the box that stores the gown, several generations of photos and letters have been included as a way to document the bearers of the gown over the years.  The letters have proved me the details I've mentioned above as well as the pictures below that I scanned in to publish.

Michelle Marie Jared Bailey (Mike's Mother & Griffin's Paternal Grandmother)	Michael James Bailey (Griffin's Father)	Group Picture from Michael's Baptism
More Pictures of Michael in the Baptismal Gown
Chistian Jared Bailey (Michael's Brother & Griffin's Uncle & Godfather)	Group Picture from Christian's Baptism	Click the picture above to see all of the photos taken during Griffin's Baptism.

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