| Bastardy Between 1732 and 1744 a number of changes took place in how the law treated the responsibility for illegitimate children: � In 1732-3, a woman pregnant with a bastard was required to declare the fact and to name the father. � In 1733, the putative father became responsible for maintaining his illegitimate child; failing to do so could result in gaol. The parish would then support the mother and child, until the father agreed to do so, whereupon he would reimburse the parish � although this rarely happened. � In 1743-4, a bastard was to have the settlement of its mother, regardless of where the child was actually born. Previously, a bastard took settlement from its place of birth. The mother was to be publicly whipped .Because of the money the parish provided to mothers of illigitimate children a woman with numerous such children might well be considered highly eligible as a wife, because of the money she brought with her!. |
| Historic Notes |