1765 12Jun Richard Fudge Bastardy
Examination
When a woman fell pregnant with a child likely to
be born illegitimate,
she was legally obliged to notify her parish of settlement
at least forty days prior to the expected birth, and submit to a
Bastardy
Examination
(EP). In practice such examinations
were frequently held after the birth, and were held before two
Justices
of
the Peace. The examination was
directed at
forcing the mother to swear to the name of the father of
the
child. This in turn allowed the parish to seek an indemnity
from the named father against any charges it might incur in
supporting the child and mother. Fathers who could be identified in
this way were obliged to enter into Bastardy Bonds
to ensure that they paid regular support to the mother and child. If
they failed to pay this support, they were legally obliged to pay
the
parish a substantial sum in compensation, often to the amount of £60
to £80.
The amounts involved were such that few men could
indemnify the parish from their own resources, and friends and
relatives, as sureties, were normally required to
sign the bond as well.
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Page last updated - 3 July 2020