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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Bedfordshire => England => Bedfordshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: seahall on Thursday 27 May 21 18:56 BST (UK)

Title: Bastardy Orders
Post by: seahall on Thursday 27 May 21 18:56 BST (UK)

HI. Does anyone know if there are any surviving orders for Bedfordshire at all. Or maybe if they were noted in the Quarter Sessions in the Newspaper in the 1830 upwards.

T.I.A.

Sandy

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: Jebber on Thursday 27 May 21 19:06 BST (UK)

Check out the Archives catalogue.

https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: Galium on Thursday 27 May 21 20:53 BST (UK)

I find it difficult to find the right search terms for locating such items in the newspapers on FindMyPast, ("bastardy" mostly brings up references to the law, rather than individual cases).  They do get mentioned though, in The Bedfordshire Mercury.  Putting "Putative Father" in the name search brings up a few. For some reason they are more frequent after 1840.

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: bevj on Thursday 27 May 21 21:18 BST (UK)

Probably not quite what you're looking for, but you might find something here:
http://vcp.e2bn.org/prisoners/quicksearches.php
(scroll down and click on 'bastardy')
I particularly like the detailed descriptions of the offenders.
Bev

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: seahall on Saturday 29 May 21 09:22 BST (UK)

Thank you all for your replies. I will see if I can find anything again in the Newspaper on F.M.P.

I have great difficult trying to use the Beds Archive Catalogue.

Sandy

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: rosie99 on Saturday 29 May 21 13:27 BST (UK)

I will admit that my main Bedfordshire surnames are not too common but I just enter just the Surname in 'Person' on this link and see what comes up.  I also narrow it down by adding a place name in 'word from the title ' box.    I have been pleasantly surprised with some of the references I have found.

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: johnP-bedford on Tuesday 01 June 21 08:41 BST (UK)

Hi Sandy,   Bedfordshire papers on BNA/FindMyPast only start 1837ish, however before that Beds Quarter Sessions are reported in Northampton Mercury from 1800 onwards

Regards John

Title: Re: Bastardy Orders
Post by: seahall on Friday 04 June 21 16:30 BST (UK)

Hi. Thank you both for the guidance.

I would have thought a lady having 3 children out of wedlock would have a bastardy record, but usually you have to know the "Putative Father" born in the 1890's.

I have a whole index for Northants from 1834-1839 Quarter Sessions and  1844-1901.

I will narrow the search for Northants Mercury just in case thanks John.

I have been trying to trace my Paternoster, Pettymaster, Pattermaster from Husborne Crawley-Aspley today. It has done my head in and I have been doing F.T. for years.

Sandy