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Note: Bastardy Examinations: 1538-1834 England The various Government Acts that were concerned with beggars of the Parish often included provisions for punishing the mothers of illegitimate children, although until the middle of the 18th century, bastardy was, in fact, comparatively rare.
Unitl 1744 an illegitimate child became the responsiblilty of the parish where it was born. Some parish officials would go to extreme lengths to avoid an illegitimate child being born within their boundaries, even transporting a woman in labour into a neighbouring parish. They also put pressure on the father to marry the mother, or gave financial inducements to anyone willing to take her on.
Details of these practices can appear in all the other sources connected with the administration of the Poor Laws.
After 1744 an illegitimate child took its mother's parish of settlement.
Although many settlement cases were sorted out satisfactory between the two parishes concerned, cases of illegitimacy usually went to quarter sessions. The aim was to enforce an order making the father pay the costs of raising the child if he would not or could not marry the mother.
Changedatetime: 14:46:50
Changedate: 16 JUL 2006
Changedatez: 2006-07-16T00:00:00.000Z
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