Bastardy bonds

[stanmapstone]

Hi All
My 2xGtGrandmother, born 1833, had 4 illegitimate children between 1850 - 1863 all were born St Giles/Gilesgate area of Durham, baptisms not yet found. Can anyone tell me where I may find the bastardy bonds for this area/period?

Trying to find details of bastardy cases after 1839 is difficult. Bastardy bonds and other parish bastardy documents ceased to be used after 1834 when the Poor Law Unions were created............ From 1839 all bastardy cases were heard at Petty Sessions, and initiated by the mother, who had to produce corroborative evidence to convict the putative father. http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/poorbastard.html

Stan

[Tickettyboo]

Long shot but if the cases were held in the Petty Sessions, there 'may' be something in old newspapers (if it was a slow news day).

If you post the names we could have a look?

Boo

[stanmapstone]

There are 129 reports of "maintenance orders" in the Durham Newspapers 1850-1899.

Stan

[judith54]

Thank you for your responses Boo & Stan

Mum is Elizabeth Mitchell, children:-
Sarah Mitchell born 15/10/1850 (birth certificate) - Earnest Place, St Giles
Eliza Jane Mitchell born 14/3/1858 (birth cert.) - Carrville, St Giles
William + Elizabeth (twins) born 9/2/1863 (birth cert) Moodys Building, Gilesgate

She eventually married March 1873 to her brother-in-law Christopher Alderson

thanks
Judith

[Tickettyboo]

Sorry Judith, I looked but can't see anything relevant in the newspapers.

Boo

[judith54]

Thanks for looking Boo - I was hoping another pair of eyes might have seen something I missed as happened to me once before.

Your assistance is much appreciated
Judith