Bastardy in Yaxham John Weston b 1788

[bobweston1a]

I've spent the last 40 years trying to solve the mystery of where my Weston line originated in England.

Recently I discovered that they lived in Yaxham, Norfolk, England. My great, great, great, great grandfather was John Weston was born 9 Feb 1788. He was baptized at St. Peter church in Yaxham on 24 Feb 1788. Church records indicate he was the "Illegitimate Son Of Spinster" his mother was Ann Weston.

I've been stuck now for some time wondering if there is anyway to take that next step. I cannot seem to find any indication of Bastardy Records for Yaxham. (Though I'm several thousand miles away and don't have access to primary sources. So I don't know for sure.)

John died 1828 in Yaxham.

My question is there someone who could help identify John's father? I've taken a Y-chromosome DNA test and the majority of my closest matches carry the Grout surname. So that seems like a possibility. But without documentation, it is just speculation.

I am sorry for rambling. I'm just at the end of my rope and hoping someone can help.

-Bob Weston

[ciderdrinker]

Hello and Welcome
We'll try and do our best.
There does seem to be a collection of bastardy orders for the area
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_p=1700%7C1600&_q=bastardy+yaxham

It's at Norfolk Archives.
Unfortunately I'm having trouble getting their catalogue to work at the moment.
Yaxham should come under Mitford and Launditch Poor law Union.

Ciderdrinker

[bobweston1a]

Hello and Welcome
We'll try and do our best.
There does seem to be a collection of bastardy orders for the area
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_p=1700%7C1600&_q=bastardy+yaxham

It's at Norfolk Archives.
Unfortunately I'm having trouble getting their catalogue to work at the moment.
Yaxham should come under Mitford and Launditch Poor law Union.

Ciderdrinker

Thank you so much. I appreciate any help you can provide.

-Bob

[brigidmac]

There's a possibility that the case was reported in newspapers

Find my past have articles for Norfolk in this era

Unfortunately the search for surname Wrexham  # sorry I meant WESTON
also throws up the town of Wrexham #WESTON 

My subs aren't current but I did get zero results with the name Ann Wrexham

Maybe victims names weren't published.

I.ll have a good with the surname GROUT ,just in case

[bobweston1a]

There's a possibility that the case was reported in newspapers

Find my past have articles for Norfolk in this era

Unfortunately the search for surname Wrexham also throws up the town of Wrexham

My subs aren't current but I did get zero results with the name Ann Wrexham

Maybe victims names weren't published.

I.ll have a good with the surname GROUT ,just in case

Hi. Thank you for your efforts. The surname is John Weston, not Wrexham. But I do appreciate your help. I have checked with online historical newspapers. But so far I've found nothing.

-Bob

[brigidmac]

Sorry senior moment..yes it was Weston that I looked for

There are a few articles about GROUT s silk merchants in Norfolk are they the ones that you have DNA matches to

[bobweston1a]

Sorry senior moment..yes it was Weston that I looked for

There are a few articles about GROUT s silk merchants in Norfolk are they the ones that you have DNA matches to

That is my suspicion. The Y chromosome is only handed down father-to-son. So in theory, my Y chromosome should be nearly identical to my 5th great grandfather's. About 80 percent of my closest matches are Grouts (a couple of Long and Whites mixed in). So, assuming there were no additional "non-paternal events" (as one DNA researcher I spoke with called it), that should lead me to a Grout. But it is possible that the father of my John Weston was "illegitimate" himself. So I'm hesitant to rely just on the Y chromosome test (familytreeDNA is the only company offering such tests).