WOFFORD.The mother was Elizabeth WILLIAMS, a widow, who had given birth to two illegitimate children.One was born on December 20, 1809 and another on June 25, 1812.William WOFFORD was named as the father of both children. [6] But not all fathers filed and paid the bonds. The microfilm may have been scanned, but have a contractual, data privacy, or other restriction preventing access. Quaker records specifically can be very forthcoming about an illegitimate child. Know all men by these presents that we Wilson Wright and James Heath are held and firmly bound unto the State of North Carolina in the sum of Two Hundred Dollars to payment of which we bind ourselves our heirs and assigns jointly & severally sealed with our seals and dated Jan'y 11, 1871. The poster on each page *provides the link to the handout* for that lecture, so be sure to copy it. Anderson County (S.C.). North Carolina has extensive records of bastardy bonds for each county. Another way to find court records is to go to your local public library and log onto WorldCat.org to see what records are available for the area you are researching. The Bastardy Bonds of North Carolina contains bonds posted because of the birth or impending, birth of a bastard child. Masters, Mary, of Anderson District (S.C.). Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. [8] If the childs parents died when they were young and had no family, they could have been placed up for adoption. Microfilm of original records in the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tennessee 1778-1914: a collection of items including illegitimacy, adoption, etc. Its possible that someone could quickly assume that Elliott was Roswells middle name and he would still have the surname of Blair. The Definitive Resource for South Carolina Municipal Bonds A. WOFFORD, Wm L. CRESWELL and Hosea H. WOFFORD.The mother was Barzilla WHILE (?WHITE?) To see what is available on the Catalog, a keyword search of apprentice or apprenticeship with the state youre researching as the place category will narrow down your research. single.She had given birth to an illegitimate female. The answer may not be found online or in a microfilm. 26 September 2021 [PAST EVENT]: Acclaimed genealogist Melvin Collier and I will be presenting an all-new 2-hour lecture titled More Than Just Names: Incorporating Social and Community History Into Your Research from 1:00-3:30 EST (please note it is Eastern Standard Time). North Carolina Bastardy Bonds $35.00 or 4 interest-free payments of $8.75 with Pay in 4 interest-free installments for orders over $50.00 with Learn more SKU: 110-NC-0144 Add to Cart North Carolina Bastardy Bonds. To see what is available on the FamilySearch Catalog, a keyword search of bastardy bonds can be used to indicate which counties kept these records. 2 State vs. Wm. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Its not expected that the informant would know who the father was if the child was illegitimate. Looking for information about the illegitimate childs parents can be very hard. North Carolina has one of the best collections of bastardy records. Author: Anderson County (S.C.). It is important to use multiple records to learn if someone was illegitimate. Bastardy Bonds of North Carolina - WikiTree G2G The laws were created to encourage conventional morality and to protect property from "hidden heirs." The laws also protected the county's budget. https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/lett/2269/, https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/lett/2519/, https://www.genealogy.com/articles/research/52_donna.html, https://lisalisson.com/2017/10/16/how-to-research-your-illegitimate-ancestors/, http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/miscellaneous/illegitimate-ancestors. Todd County, Kentucky 1820-1888 Indentures of apprenticeship The WOFFORD family is totally over-represented here! North Carolina 1736-1957 Bastardy bonds and records, Cleburne County, Alabama 1884-1950 Miscellaneous loose files, Chatham County, Georgia 1890-1950 Miscellaneous bonds (bastardy etc), Tattnall County, Georgia 1801-1870 loose papers, Jefferson County, Tennessee Maintenance (bastardy) 1807-1857), Nineteenth century Tennessee: adoptions, legitimations, and name changes, Pendleton County, West Virginia 1866-1925 bonds (including bastardy), Findmypast.com - Apprentices in Education and Work, United States, Freedmen's Bureau Labor Contracts, Indenture and Apprenticeship Records, 1865-1872, District of Columbia 1812-1893 Indentures of apprenticeship, Washington County, District of Columbia 1802-1811 Indentures of apprenticeship recorded in the Orphans Court, Burke County, Georgia 1867-1919 Indenture and apprenticeship records, Allen County, Indiana 1824-1912 Business records including apprenticeships, Todd County, Kentucky 1820-1888 Indentures of apprenticeship, Carroll County, Mississippi freedmen apprenticeship records, New Madrid County, Missouri 1810-1910 apprenticeship bonds containing names of heirs, Fredericksburg, Virginia Apprentice Records, http://www.moonfleetonline.co.uk/history/illegitimacy/, https://lisalisson.com/2017/10/16/how-to-research-your-illegitimate-ancestors, https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Illegitimacy_in_the_United_States&oldid=4742210. Also, Ive always wondered is who brought the action? 1, March 1990 (I can't explain the absence of 1989 issues) State vs. William WOFFORD/Judah WRIGHT A bond was signed before Saml Lancaster, Justice of the Peace, on March 22, 1804 by William WOFFORD, John WOFFORD Sr. and James WOFFORD in the matter of Judah WRIGHT who had given birth to an illegitimate female. The record below is a bastardy recognizancefor Dennis Waters of Somerset County, Maryland in 1893: The record notes the birth of a female illegitimate child, born the 6th of May last to Kate Ward. There are multiple counties on each film roll and they have not been indexed, but they are free to access and download. They may be found in person at the county courthouses, if still preserved. ", Follow the Witness: They May Have the Answer. Bastardy Bonds - A Look Thru Time Your IP: Fora long time, this caused shame to be heaped upon both mother and child (though oddly, not the man. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Insurance Broker Bond. Anything that happens now also happened in the past. For more details, see the flier here, and you can purchase them here. Archibald by Elizabeth WILLIAMS and Wm. This blog is where I share family history methods, resources, tips and advice, with an emphasis on slave research, slavery and its aftermath. Only the mother can give the assurance that this is the father. I call these records yesteryears version of child support. Clerk of Court. In most cases, the bondsman is not the father, but only one who is willing to help raise the child and care for the child until maturity. Other names for illegitimate children are natural born, bastard, and base-born. Summary: This series consists of a bastardy or indemnity bond taken against the parents of an illegitimate child as insurance against that child becoming a charge of the district. Use the form below to get in touch with me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. North Carolina 1736-1957 Bastardy bonds and records 2023 State Archives of North Carolina Store, Descriptions of original bastardy bonds and records held by the State Archives are summarized in the, Cohabitation Bonds and Records, 1866-1867, Minutes of the Courts of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1738-1868. Depending on the area, each apprentice record could be different. This event is $20. North Carolina bastardy bonds - volume I Format: Journal Article Language: English Physical: p. 72-73 Add to Print List Notes Names of women who were ordered to appear in court and if they refused to name the father, then some other family member had to post bond or the women went to jail. If the childs named parent is the mother, then the child could likely have been born out of wedlock. An example of possible illegitimacy is when theres a household in the census with all sons aged 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 13, and 2. Origin: Clerk of Superior Court; Clerk of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions; Register of Deeds. What did they feel? -Kendall Hailey, "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. Another clue that a child is illegitimate is if the child has the mothers maiden name given in the record instead of the fathers surname. Mountain Press and Southern Genealogy Books. Sallie, Parker, Cynthia, and Mildred all received ditto marks for their last name. "Illegitimate Ancestors," Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, accessed July 03, 2018. One of the hidden gems inside court records are the aptly named "Bastardy Bonds." These records, like much in genealogy, are another reminder that human behavior hasn't changed much. I have gotten so many requests over the years from those who couldn't make the live webinars so I hope you enjoy this new feature. You are the continuation of each of these people. Colonial America bastardy laws were laws, statutes, or other legal precedents set forth by the English colonies in North America.This page focuses on the rules pertaining to bastardy that became law in the New England colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania from the early seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century. Interlibrary Loans provide a quick way to order books and other physical materials from participating libraries around the world. They are more typically found in court records. My Vimeo ON Demand video page lists six videos you can choose from to watch for 3 months ($15 each): -Finding the Last Slaveowner: Guidance and Case Studies, -Cluster Research: Using Groups of People to Find Your People, -Using Deed Records to Uncover Your Family, -Putting it All Together: Making Sense of All the Research You've Done and, -More Than Just a Name: Incorporating Social and Community History Into Your Research. The bastardy bonds are not likely online for every county. There are record collections (some digitized) and books found on FamilySearch for Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia: Cleburne County, Alabama 1884-1950 Miscellaneous loose files Search the history of over 797 billion Ive taken back reclaimed some of that lost memory, especially that of my enslaved ancestors. The 1894 Bastardy record below names all four of Sank Summerlins children and provides their ages: And lastly, the 1899 Bastardy record below shows that some men denied the charges. Pinckney District 4 State vs. Polly WOFFORD A bond was signed on August 17, 1804 before Saml. Children born out of wedlock, like today, was a common occurrence. The womens monthly minutes are a good place to find these records if you know your ancestor was a Quaker. Mountain Press and Southern Genealogy Books, Downloadable PDF file, Betty J. Family History Library. Bastards were prohibited from inheriting property from the father unless legitimized. ", "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city;)", "Where does the family start? An illegitimate child often used the mothers surname and was frequently prohibited from inheriting property.[2]. Commissioners of the Roads, Union District (S.C.). Search Tips: Use AND, OR, NOT, and ( ) to narrow or broaden your search: "expenditures, public" and "county finances" [narrows search to records having both terms] "political ethics" or "misconduct in office" [broadens search to records having either term] ; marriage not license [narrows search to records having the first term but not the second] Uploaded by Vol. A. WOFFORD A bond was signed before H. White, Magistrate, on January 21, 1856, by Wm. It is likely for them to be entwined with other court records, as it was uncommon for the court to have a separate book for these records. Children born out of wedlock, like today, was a common occurrence. Generally, catalog entries are written in the same language as the original record they describe. You spot on the shelves a book titled Bastard Bonds. Bastardy Bonds Book North Carolina FamilySearch Community In some cases it was found that the mother and reputed father . Tattnall County, Georgia 1801-1870 loose papers Bastards were persons whose parents were not married to one another at the time of birth. Petitions to be excused from jury duty . I hope youll sign up to receive my postsif you do, youll get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! Robyn N. Smith, [insert post title], Reclaiming Kin (https://reclaimingkin.com: accessed [insert date you read the post]), [insert the date the post was written]. Wilkes County Bastardy Bonds State vs. Mary BETTERTON and John C. COOK A bond was signed before James Hamm, J.Q., on September 12, 1820, by John C. COOK, James HEWATT, George WOFFORD and William COOK.The mother, Mary BETTERTON, had given birth to an illegitimate male on July 1, 1819.The father named was John C. COOK " a married man now but then single".Commissioners for the Poor were John Crocker, Smith Lipscomb, William Young, Joseph Camp.