Bastardy Papers - What are they?

[Jenny Elizabeth]

I am quite excited as I am getting hold of a copy of bastardy papers for someone who I believe is ancestor.  That is to say the putative father is my ancestor.  Not sure what bastardy papers were and their significance.  Can anyone enlighten me?   I assume they formed part of a court case where a woman was trying to prove a man was the father of her child but was there more to it and what were the ramifications?  Any help gratefully accepted as ever.

Jenny Elizabeth

[tonia]

Hi, from what little I know, they detailed orders given to the prospective father.

Something along the lines of todays CSA, where the father was ordered to pay a certain amount to the mother, or in the case of the father being a tradesman and the child a son, he was ordered to Apprentice the son when he was of a suitable age.
I've also heard of a case where the father of a daughter was ordered in his bastardy bond to have her keep house for him and his wife and children when she was of an age to.

It really doesn't seem to me that the children benefitted greatly from orders such as these, to be honest, although if it's that or the poorhouse, I suppose anything is better!

How have you been able to get hold of them?

I have bought several birth certificates and found there is no father on them, so was hoping to see the bastardy bonds to find if there was an entry for them, but I've not had much luck yet.

[Jenny Elizabeth]

Hello Tonia

I haven't seen the document yet but am applying for it this week.  I am studying a reasonably unusual name and know my family were from a very specific area.  I looked on the National Archives website and found the record indexed at the Shakespeare's Birthplace Records Office. 

It is dated around 1816.  I will be interested to see what information I can glean from it.   I'm not expecting anything which will help me break through my brick wall in 1750s but am hoping it might help to flesh out the story of my ancestors (even if in a less than honourable way!).  Will keep you posted.

Jenny Elizabeth

[Bee]

Hi,

If you look in the 'Common Room' you will find a post (started on 24th Oct) about bastardy orders, what they are and where to look for them.

Hope this helps

Bee

PS perhaps one of the mods could put a link for it.

[Jane Masri]

Hi Jenny,
This is the link to the question I asked on October 24.  It answered all my questions.
http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16343.0

Jane

[Jenny Elizabeth]

Thanks Jane

I should have looked up bastardy papers before putting on my enquiry as your's is very recent    Extremely helpful.  I will now look up some of the links others have suggested.

Best Wishes

Jenny