Note: From Anne Cole: "Few Bastardy cases were reported in the newspapers until 1844 when a new Poor Law Act stated that all cases were to be initiated by the mother, who was to apply for an Order of Bastardy at her local Petty Sessions Court after the child had been born. Corroborative evidence was also to be provided. The following are taken from the Lincoln, Rutland and Stamford Mercury beginning in 1840. It will be seen that the number of cases being reported increases dramatically in 1844. I have not included details of the amounts to be paid by the putative fathers. The cases are usually to be found on pages two, three or four of the newspaper, in very small writing, with the Petty Sessions reports."
Dates in Bold are newspaper edition dates.10 April 1840
Boston Petty Sessions 8 April
Mother: Sarah HOWDEN, singlewoman. Putative father: John HART of Nottingham, brewer. Child chargeable to Boston.
2 October 1840
Boston Petty Sessions 30 September
Mother: Mary PEARSON, singlewoman. Putative father: James NEALE, of Frampton, lab. Female bastard child.
6 November 1840
Boston Sessions
Mother: Eleanor WANTY of Swineshead, singlewoman. Putative father: Peaee [sic] BRADLEY of Swineshead, labourer.
Thank you, Anne Cole, for the above.
Last updated on 10-February-2008
Click here to send any questions and/or comments about this site to the Lincolnshire County Coordinator.
© 2004 EnglandGenWeb Project