I have come across bastardy orders for three children born to the same man in 1783 and 1785. Each states that the father must pay £1 6s. per week, plus one shilling per week.
I thought this was a bit high, and looked up average wages at the time and find that a labourer could expect to earn about 12s. per day. The father was a miner, so will assume he made something like £3 15s. per week.
Yet it seems he was required to pay £3 19s. per week for these children.
Are these sums he really would have had to pay continually?
Here is a copy of one of the orders:
The Order made by James Hodson and Thomas Lyon Esquires – two of his Majestys Justices of the Peace and Quorum in and for the said County ...der their Hands and Seals bearing date the Second – day of September last Wherein and Whereby Edward Leicester of Orrell – in the said County Collier – is declared and Adjudged to be the reputed Father of John a – male Bastard Child born upon the Body Margaret Waring – of the Township of Orrell aforesaid – Singlewoman and he thereby Ordered forthwith to pay or come to be paid unto the Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Orrell – aforesaid or some of them the sum of One pound six Shillings – in Money weekly and every Week from that time for and during so long time as the said Bastard Child shall be chargeable to the same Township for and towards the relief and keeping of the same Bastard Child to the Time of making the same Order and also to pay or cause to be paid unto the Overseers of the poor of the said Township of Orrell for the Timebeing or some of them the sum of One shilling in Money Weekly and every Week from that Time for and during so long Time as the said Bastard child shall be chargeable to the same Township for and towards the relief and keeping of the same Bastard Child is by this Court ratified and confined to appeal … made and due Service of the said Order proved upon the oath of James Liptrot -
