William Watkins 1858 - Bastardy Arrears

[sirsimon]

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

[AlanBoyd]

21 July 1888: Herald of Wales

Added: this is from the Borough Police Court under the heading of Neath

[rosie99]

Sarah Jane Ferris in July 1888 - prison for one month

[hanes teulu]

https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3337806/3337813/54/watkins

see col 4

[sirsimon]

thanks guys, much appreciated

[AlanBoyd]

Started in 1880?

11 June 1880: Central Glamorgan Gazette

[sirsimon]

Looks that way, which is crazy considering he married my great great grandmother Catherine in 1882, two years after the birth of the child.

[AlanBoyd]

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.

[hanes teulu]

see col 5
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3335341/3335347/36/sarah%2BOR%2Bjane%2BOR%2Bferris