Bastardy Orders
Transcribed by
Geraldine Gasparelli
7.10.1758 Examination of Elizabeth Carter of Litton Cheney, single woman. She said that upward of a month since, she was delivered of a female bastard child yet living and likely to become liable to the parish. She said that sometime at the latter end of December last she went to ...Coppice in Litton Cheney to collect wood, where a man came to her and offered to live with her ....and that he begat her with child, the man having nowhere been seen before and she further saith that the gentleman was dressed with a dark cloak and had on a black wigg. (Mary d. of - Carter bapt.10.9.1758)
4.2.1759 Hospital for the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted young children - Received a female child. Signed J.Blackbeard, clerk. Note:Let this paper be given to the person who sent this child that it may be carefully kept and that it may be produced if the child should at any time be claimed.
1775. Declaration by John Stroud, yeoman, as to payment of £40 to churchwardens and overseers of the poor for mainentance of child .
Catherine Ironside declared John Stroud the lawful father of her female bastard child lately delivered and baptised by the name of Catherine. (Catherine of Catherine Ironside bapt. 6.8.1775)
1778. Elizabeth Whittle , single woman, swore on oath that on 23rd September last she was delivered of a female bastard child and that Francis Gladwin the younger was the father.
Francis Gladwin the younger and Francis Gladwin senior were bound and agreed to pay one shilling a week until the child was 7 years of age and then for its further maintenance and bringing up.
(Flower of - Whittle bapt. 27.9.1778).
1782. Elizabeth Whittle , single woman, swore on oath that on 18th November last she was delivered of a female bastard child and that Job Legg, yeoman, was the father. Job Legg was to pay one shilling and six pence a week for maintenance. (Ann of Elizabeth Whittle bapt. 25.12.1781)
1790. Agnes Hounsell delivered a male bastard child on 8.11.1790.
Order and Warrant to constables, tythingmen and others to apprehend Elias Trevett, the father, to indemnnify the parish.
20.12.1790 Elias Trevett ordered to pay 20 shillings for lying in and maintenance to date and then l shilling and 3 pence weekly. (Henry of Agnes Hounsell bapt. 26.12.1790)
24.4.1784. Isabella Blanchard was delivered of a male bastard child on 5.2. last past and swore on oath that Joseph Martin of Pimperne, lab. was the father. (no baptism found)
3.1.1791 Elizabeth Warner or Thorner was delivered of a female bastard child on 11.8. last past and declared John Groves, yeoman, was the lawful father. (no baptism found)
14.5.1791. Order to apprehend Joseph Mowlim of Bridport as the putative father of child of Elizabeth Carter
(Sarah of Elizabeth Carter bapt. 14.8.1791).
3.3.1800. Jane Edwards delivered of a female bastard child on 5th April last past and John Hayward, dairyman of Burton Bradstock is the father , and he was ordered to pay One shilling and sixpence a week maintenance.
18.10.1800. Martha Cooper underwent voluntary examination and declared she was with child and William Prout, carpenter, was the father. He was ordered to pay for lying in and maintenance. (William Cooper of Martha Cooper bapt.19.4.1801) Child died on 15.6.1802.
29.11.1801. Jane Browne delivered of a female bastard child on 22.12 last past, and John Cozens, miller, declared the father, and he was ordered to pay one shilling weekly for maintenance.
(Theodovia Cozens Browne bapt. 4.1,1801)
4.6.1803. Elizabeth Fors delivered of a male bastard child on 30.4 last past and Francis Trevett begat it.
Francis Trevett ordered to pay 2 shillings weekly for as lonbg as the child shall live and be chargeable to the parish of Litton Cheney. (Francis Fors baptised 29.5.1803)
8.1.1808 Ann Fry was delivered of a female bastard child on 7.12. last past and William Legg did beget the said child. William Legg was ordered to pay one shilling and six pence weekly. (Ann of Ann Fry baptised 18.12.1808)
25.10.1806 Male bastard child born to Mary Critchell on 29.4. last past begat by Henry Roberts. Henry Roberts ordered to pay 2 shillings weekly for as long as the child is chargeable to the parish of Litton Cheney. (no baptism found)
8.1.1808 Ann Fry delivered of a female bastard child on 7.12. last past and William Legg did beget the said child. William Legg ordered to pay 1 shillkng and 6 pence weekly for maintenance. (Ann of Ann Fry baptised 18.12.1808)
12.5.1809 Mary Critchell delivered of a female bastard child of Henry Roberts, yeoman. Henry Roberts ordered to pay 7 shillings for lying in and maintenance to date and then 2 shillings weekly. (Frances Critchell baptised 8.10.1809)
28.12.1812 Elizabeth Cornick delivered of a male bastard child on 3.12. last past begat by Richard Stroud. Richard Stroud ordered to pay usual lying in expenses and 1 shilling and 6 pence weekly for maintenance.
(Richard Cornick baptised 15.12.1811)
29.8.1813 ? (52nd year of reign of George 111) Ann Lawrence delivered of a male bastard child in July last past begat by Thomas Foot. Thomas Foot ordered to pay 1 shilling and 6 pence weekly for maintenance. (no baptism found)
8.12.1820 Mary Atkinson delivered of a male bastard child on 21.7.1820 begat by
William Legg, dairyman. William Legg ordered to pay 1 shilling and 3 pence weekly for maintenance.
(no baptism found)
12.5.1821 Hannah Kingsden delivered of a female bastard child on 15.4. last past begat by
John Trevett. John Trevett ordered to pay 1 shilling and 6 pence weekly for maintenance.
(Mary Anne Trevett of Hannah Kingsden baptised 15.4.1821)
21.2.1824 Hannah Kingsden delivered of a male bastard child on 2.1. last past begat by Henry Legg, yeoman. Henry Legg ordered to pay 1 shilling and 3 pence weekly for maintenance. (Robert of Hannah Kingsden bapt. 11.1.1824)
25.7.1832 Maria Cooper delivered of a male bastard child on 17.6 last past begat by John Sainsbury of Fordington. John Sainsbury ordered to pay 3 shillings and 8 pence weekly as maintenance.
(Andrew of John Sainsbury and Mary Cooper bapt. 24.6.1832)
31.1.1832 Sarah Trevett delivered of a female bastard child on 17.2. last past begat by William Mellish. William Mellish ordered to pay 1 shilling and 3 pence weekly for maintenance. (Elizabeth Mellish of William Mellish and Sarah Trevett baptised 11.3.1832)
28.2.1835 Joanna Mellish delivered of a female bastard child on 11.7. last past and John Hann Jenkins of Langton Herring, lab. was the father. John Hann Jenkins ordered to pay 1 shilling 3 pence maintenance weekly. (Mary Martha of Joanna Mellish baptised 10.8.1834)