A genealogist was studying a piece of record to find out the lineage of Sir Robert Attenborough – ex-mayor – attherstone town council - Warwickshire county.He was called to search for any information regarding Robert’skinship, lineage and ancestors.
Robert had lost his parents at an early age.Although he was from a family of knights (the family-title ‘Sir’ transfers to next to kin) , he was brought up by a couple from neighbourhood. An year later, when his aunt died, the couple had little knowledge about Robert’s distant relatives.Now in his early sixties, with no descendant ahead, he wants to find his distant relatives to pass on his wealth and family title.
The genealogist’s face showed signs of astonishment at the piece of record he was studying now in the central council library of attenborough.
“twins born in a gap of 15 DAYS.This is ridiculous.A misprint in record and a mishap for me.”
He checked other records for twin brothers: Allan and Joe Attenborough-Robert’s ancestors.The town council’s records showed the same.
Allan : night-2nd september, 1752
Joe : midnight-14th september, 1752
and both were twins.with modern technology, twins come to the world in a difference of a few minutes.In 1750′s,the case might be different but a matter of 11 days can either be a miracle or a simultaneous misprint in records.
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Science behind such a weird information is the british calender of 1752. September of 1752 had just 19 days.11 days from 2nd september to 13th september were missing. It means that year of 1752 had only 355 days! Allan and Joe came to this world in a difference of few minutes.The record hence showed Allan on 2nd sep. night and when Joe got his birth minutes later, it was midnight (in modern terms-passed 00.00) ie next date-14th september.
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This piece of story is completely fictitious.the reason behind narrating this story is the amazing fact that British calender of 1752 had 355 days contrary to 365 of a non-leap year.
Year 1752 was a Leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and a leap year starting on wednesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar. In the British Empire, it was the only year with 355 days, as September 3 through September 13 were skipped.Britain used to follow the old Julian calender until september 1752, when it decided to leap 11 days to change to Gregorian calender.
Fact : In the Roman Julian Calendar, April used to be the first month of the year; but the Gregorian Calendar observed January as the first month. Even after shifting to the Gregorian Calendar, many people refused to give up old traditions and continued celebrating 1st April as the New Year’s Day. When simple orders didn’t work, the King finally issued a royal dictum which stated that those who celebrated 1st April as the new year’s day would be labelled as fools. From then on, 1st April became April Fool’s Day.
-Satyagni
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