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And in 1871:
Reference RG10, Piece 2391, Folio 100, Page 15
Pedwell Corner, Ashcroft

Chapple, James  Head  M  65  Builder retired 
Chapple, Sarah  Wife  F  65  General Shop Keeper
Chapple, Anna  Daughter  F  24  Ladies Day School
Chapple, Harriett  Daughter  F  19  School Assistant
Chapple, Walter J  Son  M  27  Lodger
Chapple, James  Grandson  M  5  b Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

All others born Ashcott

*bump* I'm researching this family too. I know young James (listed here as a 5 year old) was the son of William Sandy CHAPPLE (Walter's elder brother) and Elizabeth BANCROFT, who married in Australia in 1864. William died young in 1867, and Elizabeth gave birth to another son a few months later who did not survive infancy. It seems Elizabeth went on to have another son out of wedlock in 1870. It's not quite clear how young James came to be in England without his mother in the 1871 census - did Walter (who was also in Australia when William died) take him back to England? Elizabeth reportedly ended up in the USA. Would be interesting to see any passenger lists confirming their movements around this period.

I now have a copy of the birth certificate for Roland Brian Lewis, born 3rd May 1908, but it doesn't really give any more information than the baptism record. Unfortunate also that the mother's age is not recorded, unlike birth certificates for some other countries. Thanks for the tip about the LancashireBDM web site, but this is really a needle in a haystack situation!

I've ordered a copy of the birth certificate on the off-chance that these are my relatives, although there's nothing in the family "oral tradition" (which admittedly is vague) about the child in question having died in infancy.

Any other tips as to how one might go about tracking down an illegitimate birth if you only know the mother's name and approximate date and place of birth? I understand the child was usually registered under the mother's surname  - which in this case is a very common name, unfortunately.

The fact that there is no father named on the baptism record does seem to suggest that the child may have been illegitimate though. I guess I'd have to order the birth/death certificate to confirm that.

I am fumbling around looking for the illegitimate son of one Sarah Ann LEWIS who was born in Lancashire in the early 1900s. I don't know what the child's name was, but I have found a possible match in a child named Rowland (variously spelled "Roland") Brian LEWIS, born and died 1908 in Rochdale, Lancashire: http://tinyurl.com/krsbtkp

I have a copy of his baptism record: Chapelry District of St Mary's, Wardleworth, Rochdale, Lancaster, 1908 which reads as follows:

[Illegible month in left margin: possibly "July" or "Aug" 3, 1908 - presumably the date of birth.]
DATE OF BAPTISM: Aug 11, 1908.
NAME: Rowland Brian.
MOTHER: Sarah Ann.
SURNAME: Lewis.
ADDRESS: 25 Whitworth Road.
OCCUPATION: Weaver.
CEREMONY PERFORMED BY: A. Clayton.
[Note in right margin:] "PRIVATE"

It is noteworthy that there is no father named, unlike most of the other baptisms on the same register page, and that this was a Private Baptism.

I understand a private baptism was sometimes done if the child was not expected to live - and indeed this unfortunate child did die shortly afterwards.

I am also wondering if private baptisms were common in the case of illegitimate births, when the mother may have been unwilling or unable to take the baby to be baptised in church?