Illegitimate Father - looking for the child

[Lady Di]

I know this is rather unusual but I'm looking for an illegitimate CHILD as I know who the father was 

I have found in a will the phrase ...

"Also I give and bequeath unto Hannah Lurkins the reputed or supposed child of my late brother Robert the sum of forty pounds to be paid to her or laid out for her benefit at any time before she attains the age of 21 years"

The reputed father, Robert Moule, died in 1797 in Royston Herts/Cambs and the above will was written 1805 - therefore Hannah was born 1784-1797 (if my sums are correct  )

2 questions:

 - isn't it unusual to leave money to a child to be paid BEFORE she's 21?
 - where is Hannah?

I know it's near impossible to find the father of an illegitimate child normally so hoping this might help someone who is descended from Hannah Lurkins - that is... if we can find Hannah!

Thanks
Di

[avm228]

Here's one candidate to have a look at - Hannah Larkins bapt 1789 Meldreth, mother Ann:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRSY-SXN

[Lady Di]

Thanks avm228 - she's certainly a close match particularly as another transcript says that Hannah was "base born" child of Ann.

Can't find either of them after the christening in 1789 

[ThrelfallYorky]

Could it have been "before 21" so that she couldn't handle it herself? I wonderwhat would happen if she had got to 21 before her bequeathing uncle had died? Sounds like a fascinating tale somewhere behind it.

[Lady Di]

The uncle was abt 80 when he wrote his will so one assumes that he didn't have a lot of time left. Obviously he might have lived to be 90+ and therefore Hannah may not have received her inheritance.

It does say that she's to receive the money before she turns 21 - I thought it might be one way of providing a dowry of sorts.

[ThrelfallYorky]

That was rather what I meant - perhaps he was trying to provide for the daughter of his errant brother, without letting her have too much say in what she did with the legacy?

[IgorStrav]

Or providing for her during her youth and adolescence - a bit like nowadays children are often provided for by an absent parent until they finish education?

I agree until 21 is generous for those days, but would cover her education if any, and up to a likely marriage age.

[avm228]

Who is the testator - is it Thomas Moule?  Do you have evidence of a grant of probate?

[LizzieL]

Maybe he meant to say to be  paid to her when she's 21 or to benefit her but controlled by someone else if she needed it before she was 21. My grandfather left me a legacy with that kind of stipulation. If I needed it to pay for education I could have it earlier