Genealogy Chat

Being a bit thick, I assume a Bastardy Order will only exist where the mother needs to prove who the father is? For purposes of collecting 'state benefits' or whatever? I have a friend whose relly was the father of a bastard child and the mother was seeking financial help from the Army during WW1, so presumably a bastardy order would have been used there? Please just confirm. Margaret

many thanks nudging for later as my father was born the wrong side of the blanket,born in a workhouse in Nottingham, but his middle name was his fathers surname l think loopyloo

Thanks alot OC....just my luck lol. Linda

Linda As the fathers are named on the birth certificates, then it is very unlikely that the mother would have taken out a Maintenance Order against the father - sorry. OC

bookmarking. I have a gt grandmother b1842 and, on another line, a gt grandfather b1851. On the births certs, although they were both born illegitimate, the fathers are named. Having the fathers names is still no help to me....I have no idea who they are!! Linda

Jo In the Magistrate's Court records, local to the birth. These will probably be in the County Records Office, or at least they may know where they are. OC

Was reading thread out of interest and... My grandfather was born 1878 Stansted Essex his father isn't named on the birth certificate. OC says a maintenance order would be hard to find but feel I should at least look. Therefore, where would you look for one please?

A lot depends on the date. Pre 1840, Bastardy Orders were often quite informative. It was not down to the MOTHER to take out one of these, it was done over her head, so to speak, by the Poor Law Overseers of the parish, and she would be forced to give all sorts of details, some of them, erm, quite personal! These orders are almost always in the County Records Office, although some are still held in church records. Post 1840-ish, Bastardy Orders died out and were replaced with the politer Maintenance Order, which was up to the woman to pursue, usually in the Magistrate's Court. These can be quite difficult to find in my experience, and as I haven't got any as late as this, I can't tell you what they contain! I shoyld imagine there is also a period of closure on them, too. OC

I have a copy of one which states all the information that the woman (my GGG Grandmother in 1808) gave the parish (when asked)..in this case the fathers name his army rank and where they thought he had been posted. They never did catch up with him! I found it at the records office then later found mention of it on the National Archives site. Sheila

You can obtain a copy in the records office, although not all illigitimate children's fathers were subject to the orders. Unsure on what info they contain, but other peeps on here will know.

Can anyone tell me what information is likely to be on them. Is the fathers address, or any information that would help to locate him on there? and is it possible to obtain a copy of one. Thanks in advance.