Bastardy - Raunds

When a child was born out of wedlock the mother was expected to name the father so that maintenance could be claimed from him. She was often unable to work and reliant on the parish for relief and no parish wanted to pay, if it need not, to maintain the girl and her baby.

A court could issue a Filiation Order for money to be paid weekly until such child was able to support itself, refuse to set an order or dismiss the case for want of evidence. Some cases were abandoned because the two parties did not appear at court or the father had run away and occasionally the parties would make their own agreement out of court. Some entries are written twice and it is likely that the mother had twins and the reputed father was ordered to pay for each child.

The Quarter Sessions Bastardy papers give the name of the mother and her parish, the birth date and gender of the baby, the reputed father who was brought to the court and the result. If the mother was in the workhouse the Board of Guardians would take the case to court.

year	Mother		parish	child	born	Reputed Father		occupation	parish	outcome/notes
1836	Susannah	LOVELL	Raunds	-	-	William	ADAMS	shoemaker	Raunds	order made
1836	Piercy	MARLIN	Raunds	M	06 Feb 1835	George	ISITT	baker	Wellingborough	order made (she aged 24)
1838	Sophia	PRIESTLEY	Raunds	M	15 Dec 1837	Samuel	GOODMAN	plumber & glazier	Raunds	order made

see also Bastardy at the Petty Sessions

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NRO Ref: Misc. QS 211 + 218