Record of Disownment 1700s

[rutht22000]

Does anyone know what information a Record of Disownment might hold?

My 4x great grandmother Ellin Fletcher (b.circa 1735 in Ormskirk) seems to have been disowned by her family in 1755 whilst I believe she was expecting the first of her two illegitimate children, Margaret, who was christened in September 1756.  The father is named as on the Order for Maintenance (from July 1756) as Thomas Seddon of Aspull.

She had another illegitimate child, William (my 3x great grandfather) in 1760.  I have a note of a Filiation Order for William naming a Thomas Iddon as the father (same man?) but I have lost my source for it (I was relatively sure it was the National Archive/A2A but its not showing up on searches).   Ellin, I believe, did marry Thomas Iddon, by now widowed, in 1768 and I find one child Alice who was born in 1775.

Lancashire Record Office have the Record of Disownment but I was just wondering if anyone had come across what information they could hold to see if its worthwhile asking them for a copy

Thanks
Ruth

[stanmapstone]

Were they Quakers?
The practice of "disownment" — proclaiming that someone was not in unity with the main body of Friends — had been in use since the earliest years, but now it had additional applications. Previously acknowledged members could be disowned for various faults, including disorderly walking, bankruptcy, and marrying non-Quakers, though as the discipline was applied by Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, practice varied.
http://goo.gl/YjDJL3


Stan

[rutht22000]

Thanks Stan

Not as far as I am aware - I had only ever found it related to Quakers unless the parents (Thomas and Alice) had a change of religion between the christenings of their children (they seem to be at St Peter & St Paul in Ormskirk until at least 1745 when their second youngest child died), but in the interim 10 years between then and the disownment, I suppose it could be possible...

[stanmapstone]

Disownments only refer to Quakers aka The Society of Friends.
The Lancashire Record Office record for Ellin Fletcher is
Lancaster Society of Friends
2 - Lancaster Monthly Meeting
1 - Lancaster Monthly Meeting - Main Meeting
5 - Disownments
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fo6/

Stan

[stanmapstone]

So she was "disowned" by the Quakers not her family.
Disownable offences included: having an illegitimate child or child conceived out of wedlock
http://www.qfhs.co.uk/public_html/research.htm#Disownment
Stan

[rutht22000]

Brilliant - thank you Stan 

Might have to search for her sister who also had an illegitimate child 3 years before Ellin!