bastardy orders

[stella21]

I have driven several people mad at YorksGen who tried to help me look for my elusive G grandfather David Johnson.

The story so far:- In all censii (1861 -1891) David says he was b about 1844 in HALIFAX. Calderdale FHS sent me a list of all Johnsons in 1851 census in Halifax. The only David was 7 (right age) in Waley grammar school as a boarder, with brother John. The head (who I find was a bit of a rascal, forced to resign a few years later) has put that both boys were born Manchester.I gave up on this as I couldn't see how my g Gdad (later a miner) would be in a fee paying school. When I reached the 1891 census, David's in Wombwell with his wife Ann younger son William and MOTHER Ann Thewlis. I think I've traced Mrs Thewlis back to Churwell, but if she is David's ma pre marriage her name would not have been Thewlis, would it? Today I got David's birth cert and yup, no father. I've read that bastardy orders weren't that common in 19th centrury but would like to try to see one, if only to find Mrs Thewlis's maiden name. Name of father would be even better, of course. How would I go about getting one for someone who according to free BMD may have been born Leeds, Bradford or Manchester - though NOT Halifax? Any advice much appreciated. Stellaasas 

[sillgen]

First of all you need to find all possible births and that means looking at the complete list on www.1837online.com.  FreeBMD is NOT full coverage.   I hope you have got the right certificate!  It is always possible that his mother married a Mr Thewlis after his birth so check for that too.  It is an unusual name so should not be too hard to trace.   Are you sure that she is not his wife's mother? 
Bastardy bonds were issued by the parish and were generally kept in the parish chest for the particular parish.   Many have not survived.  The appropriate record office should be able to advise you about them.
Just as a matter of interest have you checked the history of the school?   Some were set up especially for poorer children.
Andrea

[stella21]

Thanks for your swift response. I have definitely got the right certificate.

She is not David's wife's mother.

I have info re Warley school from Halifax Archives. It was set up as a grammar school for poor children from Warley specifically and was never intended to be a fee paying boarding school. The head who did this was eventually forced out. It isn't totally impossible that David was at this school, in fact I'm deeply suspicious of a William Johnson (38 in 1861 census) who was a sergeant in the 2nd foot, staying at a Halifax inn with 2 other soldiers. But having 2 children in the school and no sign of mum in 1851 is going it a bit, doncha think? Thanks again Stella

[stella21]

P.S. I'm pretty sure that Ann (Mother) married a James Thewlis of Churwell - have the date of this marriage, but not in my head.

  I'll recheck this. Another alternative would be to persuade some kind soul to look for David in 1851 in Leeds, when (if he's not the Halifax David) he should be with his mother. ... Stella