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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Glamorganshire => Topic started by: sirsimon on Wednesday 23 April 25 11:34 BST (UK)

Title: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: sirsimon on Wednesday 23 April 25 11:34 BST (UK)
Hello,

I was looking through the prison records for Swansea 1888 - 1890 when I came across my great, great grandfather William Watkins, who was aged 30 in 1888.

It states that he was imprisoned for one month on 13th August 1888 because of bastardy arrears. I assume this was because he had to pay for the upkeep of an illegitimate child.

According to the record, there was a previous conviction for the same crime on 27th April 1888, Register 42.

Is there any way to find out who the illegitimate child was and perhaps who the mother was?

thanks

Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: AlanBoyd on Wednesday 23 April 25 11:39 BST (UK)
21 July 1888: Herald of Wales

Added: this is from the Borough Police Court under the heading of Neath
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: rosie99 on Wednesday 23 April 25 11:40 BST (UK)
Sarah Jane Ferris in July 1888 - prison for one month
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: hanes teulu on Wednesday 23 April 25 11:55 BST (UK)
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3337806/3337813/54/watkins

see col 4
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: sirsimon on Wednesday 23 April 25 11:59 BST (UK)
thanks guys, much appreciated

Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: AlanBoyd on Wednesday 23 April 25 12:03 BST (UK)
Started in 1880?

11 June 1880: Central Glamorgan Gazette
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: sirsimon on Wednesday 23 April 25 12:06 BST (UK)
Looks that way, which is crazy considering he married my great great grandmother Catherine in 1882, two years after the birth of the child.

Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: AlanBoyd on Wednesday 23 April 25 12:16 BST (UK)
Possibility?

1881 census
There is a Sarah A Ferris [transcribed at A***Y, not totally convincing in the original] U 21 b Weston-super-Mare living with her mother Ann in Llantwit Lower . There is a 1 y old grandson named William and Sarah is the likely mother.
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: hanes teulu on Wednesday 23 April 25 12:31 BST (UK)
see col 5
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3335341/3335347/36/sarah%2BOR%2Bjane%2BOR%2Bferris
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: sirsimon on Wednesday 23 April 25 12:35 BST (UK)
the census of 1881 is more than likely her. The middle name is not the same as the newspaper articles however, but this isn't an unusual situation.

thanks hanes for the additional newspaper article

I found a record that indeed shows William being born on 8th April 1880 in the Neath Workhouse
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: hanes teulu on Wednesday 23 April 25 13:03 BST (UK)
Always good to get a result.
Title: Re: William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears
Post by: wilcoxon on Wednesday 23 April 25 14:48 BST (UK)


FERRIS, SARAH  ANN  - No mmn.
  GRO Reference: 1888  D Quarter in NEATH
  Volume 11A  Page 649