My Gran was illegitimate -I have her baptism July 1866 in Badsworth nr Hemsworth but can't find her birth . There are a few Emma Charlesworth's .She was brought up by relatives as their niece . Where would I find the Bastard Rec. ? would that be in Leeds or Pontefract . I am in Australia . Jose Ps She was "fostered" by a Col. Ramsden who was in his 20's at the time & not old .I have his will & she isnt mentioned .She had French & piano lessons
My husband's grandmother, Norah Milne, was also illegitimate. Born Bolsterstone, Yorkshire in 1894. We have her birth certificate which does not name a father. She had her mother's surname until she married. Is there likely to be a Bastardy Record with a father's name? I had no idea there were such records.
Grandma never knew who her father was in her lifetime so the rest of the family had given up hope of ever being able to find out, especially as they came to Australia c1927. She was brought up by her mother and grandparents in Bolsterstone and moved to Holmfirth to live with an uncle when her mother died about 1912. She married in Huddersfield about 1916. Her uncle is listed as her father on the marriage certificate.
The only information I had regarding my grandfather was his name, the year of his birth which was 1894 and a possible name for his mother. I contacted the registry office in Leeds and fortunately there was his birth registration naming his mother but not his father. He was born in the workhouse infirmary in Leeds. They suggested that I contacted the national archives because as an illegitimate child his mother would have had to name the father on the bastardy record so that they could claim renumeration for his upkeep.
I don't know that my g grandmother ever got any support from the father of her child. The child was born at home and looked after by family while the mother continued working. We have no idea of the identity of the father but suspect he was a farm worker or servant on her father's property. I think you were lucky your lady was in an institution which obviously was interested in getting support from the father.
I will try the archives but don't hold out much hope.
For me I firmly believe Col Ramsden must have been my Gran Emma' s father. Looks like he paid for her upkeep probably so he didn't get listed . He & his wife had no kids .Makes me cross to think he was the "pillar " of the local society !!& had two illeg. kids .Maybe even more ! Jose
If a child was born out of wedlock the town overseer would put pressure on the mother to disclose the father and would then take out a magistrates order against the father. An extract from one I have a copy of - ---- Elizabeth took oath in the presence of the JP on the 5th day of May in the year of our Lord 1823 that W------- M------- of W---- did beget a bastard child on the body of her, the said Elizabeth O------ He was ordered to pay 30 shillings to the Overseer and two shillings a week as long as the child was chargeable on the Parish. The mother was ordered to pay one shilling per week. Elizabeth brought up her child without claim on the Parish, the order was taken out mainly to establish the Parish responsible for the child, if the child ever became dependent on the parish in its lifetime. W. M. did not live in the same Parish as Elizabeth and his Parish would become responsible for the child unless it earned a settlement in some other Parish.
Oliver - Swinton nr. Rotherham, South Yorks - Wombwell nr. Barnsley, South Yorks - Sheffield and Wortley, South Yorks - Loughborough Naylor- Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Thank you Yorkshire Rose . Just wish I could find the birth cert of my Gran .Her brother George{also illeg } was registered at Hemsworth 21.6.1864 .No father listed . On my Gran's wedding cert she calls herself Hewitt-Charlesworth .Hewitt being the surname of the rels. who brought her up . Its just a shame the registrar's wont give you the Mother's name before you buy a cert .None are listed at Hems. in 1866 in her name . Jose
I have just had another look at possible mother's for Emma and George. Here goes.
1871 Census ref, RG10; Piece 4642; Folio 95; Page 6 Emma H Charlesworth age 4 Niece of William and Mary J Hewitt
1871 Census ref, RG10; Piece 4641; Folio 61; Page 8 George Charlesworth age 6 Grandson of John and Charlotte Charlesworth also living the is a Hannah Charlesworth age 26 (possible mother to George and Emma)
1861 Census ref, RG9; Piece 3434; Folio 91; Page 9 Hannah Charlesworth age 17 working as a Domestic Servant in Ferry Fryston for a Myres family (not clues there)
1861 Census ref, RG9; Piece 3440; Folio 68; Page 2 John and Charlotte (possible Grandparents of Emma and George and parents of Hannah) only one other daughter Elizabeth age 3 and not old enough to be Emma and Georges mother. Living in Sykehouse.
1851 Census ref, HO107; Piece 2331; Folio 194; Page 11 John, Charlotte, Hannah and also daughter Sarah age 5, but Sarah's possible death in Q2 1861 Pontefract. Also and this is where the Hewit conection comes in Betty Hewit age 70 down as mother but is possibly Charlotte's mother. There are also other Hewits' on the same page.
1841 Census ref, HO107; Piece 1309; Book 3; Page 1 John and Charlotte with one son William
My conclusion is: John and Charlotte has three daughter Sarah who died before Emma and George's birth Elizabeth who wasn't old enough to be the mother of George and Emma Therefore Hannah is the only one possible to be their mother. She was in domestic service in the years prior to George's birth and back living with her parents John and Charlotte after.
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