It was a particularly harsh winter in 1775-1776 so Jane was not publicly christened until 5 April at the local church with the single name Jane.

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Godparents were often chosen for the children in the hope that they might receive gifts or be left money in their will, and the Austen's were no exception when choosing godparents for their own children. Jane had three godparents - her great Uncle Francis' wife Jane, Jane Musgrave and Revd Samuel Cooke. 

 

Her great Uncle Francis was rich after a successful career as a lawyer and was around 82 at the time of Jane Austen's birth, so choosing his second wife Jane as a godparent was a very strategic move on the Austen's part.  Francis was already godparent to the eldest Austen child James, so they did not choose him again. 

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Jane Musgrave was the wife of a Dr James Musgrave, Rector of Chinnor, Oxfordshire, cousin of Jane Austen's mother. James Musgrave was a wealthy relation and for many years was the owner of the working library of Sir Isaac Newton. Little is known about Jane Musgrave herself. 

 

Revd Samuel Cooke, the vicar of Great Bookham in Surrey, was another of Jane Austen's mother's cousins by marriage. He was a fellow of Baliol College Oxford, which is where he met his wife, also called Cassandra Leigh, daughter of Rev Theophilus Leigh, Master of Baliol College Oxford.  Jane visited the Cookes in Great Bookham on several occasions and was fond of them. She preserved some letters of her aunt Mrs Cooke, who was also an aspiring writer. She wrote a novel called, Battelridge.