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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: valerie kehoe on Wednesday 31 March 04 07:02 BST (UK)
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Woud anyone know about the Bastardy Files for Suffolk? I would like to find my 3xgreat grandfather George Mortimer's REAL father - as he was born 5 years after his mother was widowed. His baptism entry at Ashfield-cum-Thorpe church 1798 recorded him as 'bastard son' of Anne Mortimer. There was also another 'bastard son' born 2 years earlier 1796 James Moss Mortimer - suggesting perhaps that a Mr Moss was involved!
Thanks Valerie
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Hi Valerie
The modern Child Protection Agency is nothing new, as our ancestors were subject to rigorous examination by the Overseers of the Poor to force the mother of a bastard child to name the biological father or alternately a father for that child.
They would then make him legally responsible for paying for its birth and upkeep as the parish did not want to take responsibility for an unmarried mother and her child who were likely to be dependant on parish relief. (Before the baby was born, she would often have been moved on in 'the dead of night' to the next parish by the constable.)
Bastardy papers are likely to be in the 'Overseers of the Poor' Documents in the 'Parish Chest' - these should now be in the Local County Records Office - most probbly they have already been transcribed and indexed.
Chris in 1066Land
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Thank you Chris. I will try and follow that up with the Suffolk County Records Office. Thank you - Valerie
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Hi Valerie
Just seen your interest in Bastardy files for Suffolk. I was at the Ipswich RO last week and they have a load of brown index boxes containing cards, by surname which have details of name and parish and type of bond. You then call down the originals from the strongroom. They were not transcribed as far as I could see.
I had luck with one of mine, but not the other! Sorry I did not see your message before - I would have been happy to look up for you. Maybe if you contact ipswich, they would at least look in the index cards for you? :) Their no. is 01473 583000 or you can email queries to ipswich.ro@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk. I found some members of staff more helpful and friendly than others .....!
Good luck
Bambino
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Thank you Bambino,
I have just taken your advice and have written off to Ipswich.
I had written to a Suffoll Records Office before -but with no luck. I can't actually remember what they said -but it was impossible for me to go there in person. Let's hope I get somewhere this time! (I'm in W.Australia)
Thanks again - Valerie
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:)Valerie, I have emailed the records office at Ipswich and always had helpful replies, so I hope that you do, too!
Joy
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Thanks for your interest - but unfortunately Ipswich have said the files haven't survived. No suggestion was made to try anywhere else. Regards Valerei
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Hi Valerie
I don't know if this would be of any help to you, ( its a long way off yet ) but i plan to go to Suffolk in August if you let me know what you want i will look for you.
I am going to the Bury St Edmond's office.
Sorry its so long to wait but it is a seven hour drive for me.
Wj.
P S i have a twin brother in W A.
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I'm really sorry to but in here, but this subject has suddenly come close to me.
My grandfather Laurence John was always told that his mother died giving birth to him in November 1881 and his father failed to register his birth in his distress. He remarried 2 years later.
A distant relative threw up the theory that Laurence was not his "mother's" child but a bastard fathered on the woman who later became his "father's" second wife. It was, as far as we’re aware, speculation on her part based on an entry on the 1891 census.
I have today received from the GRO a birth certificate for a Laurance John and yes, his mother is shown as the second wife, Clara, with an unnamed father. I know from the 1881 census that Clara was working as a servant in Suffolk to someone whose christian names were John Laurence (that may be a coincidence so I'll post no surnames in case there's descendants of his).
I'm now confused and a little saddened. Poor Clara was never able to acknowledge her son as her own, only as a stepson. The fact that Laurance was "responsible" for his "mother's" death also apparently led to a division in the family.
Legally, what is my surname? The one my grandfather used or the one he was born under? Is there any way of tracing who was his biological father? I've checked the records on A2A for paternity suits but found nothing that matches. The bastardy records mentioned here are totally new to me - what do they consist of and could they help me?
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Hi JenniG
You raise a lot of interesting questions! Firstly, what is your surname? I am unsure of the Legalities, but I suppose it would be the surname of Clara’s legal husband and Laurence’s adoptive father, if indeed he was legally adopted, but I think that you may be more interested in your bloodline than legalities.
Here is a useful link which gives information about the type of records that existed with regard to illegitimacy. The link is specifically for Lincolnshire, but is also true for Suffolk, and you may well find useful information about Clara and Laurence at the Suffolk Record Office.
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/poorbastard.html
http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/sro/
Rick :)
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It is my understanding that, until 1927, there was no legal form of adoption. Up until that time, an illegitimate child took his mother's surname, even if she subsequently married the father. The father's name could be used as an "AKA" in subsequent records (marriage, death, etc). There are cases where the couples married between the date of the child's birth and the child's christening and/or registration and thereby 'hoodwinked' the authorities.
Deborah
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Thanks for that.
I have a vague recollection that when my grandfather needed to provide his birth certificate and couldn't, he had to swear in front of a solicitor or someone similar (Commissioner of Oaths?) as to who he was and as to the details of his birth (that's what makes me certain he was unaware of the real circumstances).
Is this likely or possible or have I lost the plot somewhere? :)
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I think my grandmother had to do something like that in order to get a pension. She did not know that the man she thought was her father was not until she reached retirement age. Her mother had always told her that when she was born registration of births was not compulsory. Back then, in the early sixties, tracing your family history was much more difficult than it is now and her mother was not forthcoming.
We now have her birth certificate, and found that no father was recorded and she was born in the workhouse.
Deborah
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That raises another question! My GF's birth was in early November but he wasn't registered until the end of December. The birth cert simply gives his place of birth as the registration sub district and no actual address. Was this normal?
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I've just checked with my mother. Her mother had to provide details of schools attended, employers, etc. These were all checked and she was then issued a birth certificate that just gave her parents' names (including the father that turned out not to be hers - but she did not know that at the time) and stated that she was British. My mother can't remember accurately, but thinks that she may also have had to swear that she was who she said she was.
Of course, we now have a copy of the real birth certificate.
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Sorry - I didn't make myself clear. The lack of actual place of birth is on the real certificate which I located which shows GF's real mother and father unnamed.
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Hi Valerie
Just reading through the old posts and noticed that you are researching Rowes in Suffolk - as am I. Until last week I thought they came from Chelmondiston but I have now found a will that links them to Henley, Grundisburgh and Witnesham. Anne Rowe who is probably an xtimes aunt [born in Henley] married Robert Mortimer and they lived in Ashfield cum Thorpe.
Just wondered if we fit anywhere.
Regards
Judy
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Hi Judy,
Thanks for getting in touch, Yes - Anne Rowe was my (several times) great grandmother. As you probably have read -from my earlier posts - Anne had 2 sons -after her husband had died. I haven't managed to make any headway re 'bastardy files' to learn who the 'new' partner was. I will 'pm' you re my Mortimer tree. Thanks again - Valerie