Bastardy Documents
The Motcombe dicuments seem to be orders to the Constables to apprehend the men
declared on oath to be the fathers of bastard children:
18.3.77 Mary BROWN or BROWNING of Motcombe with child. Order to apprehend Thomas STOUT of Norton, Somerset, butcher , who begot it. (William BROWNING of Mary BROWNING baptised 11.5.1777)
22.3.1769 Elizabeth ANDREWS of Motcombe with child. Order to apprehend Cornelius MAIDMENT of East Stower who begot it. (no baptism found)
6.3.1786 Sarah RIDGLEY of Motcombe with child. Order to apprehend Joseph WILKINS who got her with child. (Ruth RIDGLEY baptised 12.41792)
26.3.1792 Charlotte DAVIS with child. Order to apprehend James MAYO who begot it. (Edeth DAVIS baptised 6.5.1792)
29.8.1807 John MULLINS of Motcombe ordered to appear for refusing to obey a Bastardy Order in respect of a male bastard child born to Elizabeth BARTERS. (no baptism found)
29.1.1811 A female bastard child born to Honor PHILLIPS on 28.12 last. Order to apprehend Charles LEAR, butcher, who begat it. (Elizabeth PHILLIPS baptised 6.1.1811)
19.9.1815 A male bastard child born to Sarah BROADWAY of Motcombe on 28.12 last. Order to apprehend William BARTLEY, butvher who begat it. (William BROADWAY baptised 15.8.1815)
7.3.1816 Ann WILKINS of Motcombe with child. The father, John CRAM, ordered to be apprehended. A female bastard was born 5.4.1816
1.10.1816 Louisa ARNOLD delivered of a male bastard child on 16.3. last at Enmore Green. Order to apprehend Jesse UPJOHN who begat it. (James ARNOLD baptised 31.3.1816.
2.6.1818 Sarah THORNE with child. Order to apprehend the father, George OBORNE of Henstridge. (no baptism found)
5.5.1821 Hannah WEST delivered of a male bastard child on ___ The father, Edward HISCOCK, yeoman, has not paid £5.10.0 towards maintenance so unless he pays up, he is to be taken to the House of Correction for 3 months hard labour.