Hi Trevor
Montgomery Quarter Sessions in
1797, for a bastardy bond
The Churchwardens would have made every effort at that time to
persuade William to take responsibility for the child and to marry
Mary. They would only resort to court action if absolutely
necessary.
I would suggest that William Griffiths was the putative father and
that Evan Davies stood surety / recognizance in case William failed
to pay for the child. He might have been William's employer. Having
been bound in a sum, if William failed to pay for 'lying in' (for
the birth) and maintenance, the moneys would become payable.
The sort of sums payable for bastardy in the late 18C are suggested
in the example below from Radnor QS Order Book 1:
Knighton 12 Jul 1774 p28
Richard MORRIS ag[ains]t Parish of Llannanno. for & towards the
birth & maintenance of a bastard child lately born in the Sd parish
on the body of Margaret POWELE the sum of two pounds for her lying
in & maintenance of the Child to the 18th June last and the weekly
sum of one shilling from the said 18 June for & towards the
maintenance of the said Child for so long as the said Child shall
Continue Chargable to the Sd parish.
Other examples from Radnor QS Order Book 1 involving sureties:
===================
Knighton 16 Apr 1776 p48
Ordered that Nathaniel BYNON & Saml DAVIES be discharged from their
Recognizance, the said BYNON having given Security for the
maintenance of a Bastard Child.
=================
Presteigne 12 Jan 1779 p86a
James GOLD of the parish of Lanvihangel acknowledges to owe the King
forty pounds. Richd WILLIAMS of the Same parish twenty pounds.
Upon Condition that James GOLD appears at the next Quarter Sessions
to be held for this County then and there to abide by such order as
shall be made in Pursuance of the Act of 18 of Elizabeth concerning
bastard Children born out of lawful wedlock & do not depart the
Court without leave.
==================
Mike Hall
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Erwood
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-----Original Message-----
From: Trevor & Pamela Griffiths <kestral(a)netserv.net.au>
To: POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com <POWYS-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: 30 May 2001 03:53
Subject: Bastardy at Quarter Sessions.
Hi to all,
I have received a copy of a sitting of the Montgomery Quarter
Sessions in
1797, for a bastardy bond and on it, it states that William
GRIFFITHS of
Lower Broniarth, labourer, and Evan DAVIES of township
(unreadable), yeoman
came before the court.
The sum of ten pounds was made against both men, and in the
conditions it
states that it was for begetting a child on the body of Mary JONES,
single
woman.
My question or query is this : Does this mean that both men had a
relationship with Mary JONES?
Also, my records show that William GRIFFITHS was aged about 17,
Evan DAVIES
age unknown, and Mary JONES aged 16.
It seems strange that Evan DAVIES, yeoman, who would have more
means than
William a labourer, make an odd couple, maybe they worked together
on a
farm.
How would a 17 year old labourer cover the sum of ten pounds?
Any thoughts that people may have, I would be interested in
receiving.
All the best from
Trevor Griffiths in wet and cold Bunbury, West Australia.