In some cases, the record coverage may be very low and may not have any records to look through. South Carolina Department of Archives and History In some cases, the mother and reputed father together posted the bond. Bastardy bonds and records (North Carolina), 1736-1957 Authors: North Carolina. College, Advanced AA Gen Class, September 2011, AAHGS Annual Genealogy Conference, November 2008, Howard Comm. For descendants, I would add the substantial emotional impact of seeing an ancestor's name attached to a dollar value, or being valued in a list with silverware and cattle. Commissioners of the Poor. Quaker records specifically can be very forthcoming about an illegitimate child. Some are indexed. I have been a researcher, writer, lecturer and teacher for over twenty years. Henderson County North Carolina Bastardy Bonds 1830 - 1870. You never know what you will uncover next! They would leave the fathers field blank or list unknown. Blacks Law Dictionary defines bastardy proceedings as legal action that is taken to compel the father to support his illegitimate child. Blacks defines bastardy as the offense of begetting.. The Bastardy Bonds of North Carolina contains bonds posted because of the birth or impending, birth of a bastard child. Nineteenth century Tennessee: adoptions, legitimations, and name changes Certain scenarios will be easier to spot than others. But as the census is analyzed carefully, there is no ditto marks for Roswell concerning his last name. That gives us two people to add to Dennis clusterthey are likely close friends or family members. 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. Information includes the names of the parents (Mary Masters and Henry Sims), amount of the bond ($250.00), conditions of the bond, date, and signatures of involved parties 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 Bond posted by Adolphus NANCE, (J . This event is $25. Ive taken back reclaimed some of that lost memory, especially that of my enslaved ancestors. Looking for information about the illegitimate childs parents can be very hard. The idea of illegitimacy usually comes from oral histories. You are the continuation of each of these people." -Hugh Kingsmill, "No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?" Superior Court (Watauga County), United States, North Carolina, Watauga - Probate records, FamilySearch Terms of Use (Updated 2021-09-27), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. October 1, 2019. North Carolina. 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. MOTHER: DATE OF BOND: FATHER: Allen, Mary : 1851 : Mc Cawl, Ezekial: Ashworth, Elizabeth ## 1830? 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. In some cases it was found that the mother and reputed father . The poster on each page *provides the link to the handout* for that lecture, so be sure to copy it. It is highly recommended to check the county information in the catalog to ensure that we have bastardy bonds from the time period before placing your order. Attention: This site does not support the current version of your web browser. As the child is sometimes call, a Woods Colt, Old Field Colt or just illegitimate. The answer may not be found online or in a microfilm. "Illegitimate Ancestors," Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, accessed July 03, 2018. This item is available on microfilm at this FamilySearch center. ", "Call it a clan, call it a network, all it a tribe, call it a family. Otherwise, the child would become a ward of the local poor house and be an expense to the government. Just go to my Vimeo page and make your selection. At your request I have finally made available for viewing past popular webinars! The librarian quietly explained that throughout legal history, bastardy bonds imposed sanctions on the parents of those born out of wedlock. The, For descendants, I would add the substantial emotional impact of seeing an ancestor's name attached to a dollar value, or being valued in a list with silverware and cattle. Every genealogist begins their research looking for birth-death-marriage records. The colonies established many laws based on a . Washington County, District of Columbia 1802-1811 Indentures of apprenticeship recorded in the Orphans Court Division of Archives and History, United States, North Carolina - Public records, United States, North Carolina, Guilford - Public records, FamilySearch Terms of Use (Updated 2021-09-27), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The microfilm may be scheduled for future scanning. Anything that happens now also happened in the past. The father is usually not specified. Join the community of family history enthusiasts and FamilySearch employees to ask questions and discuss potential product enhancements. This event is $12. 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. I hope youll sign up to receive my postsif you do, youll get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! When the pregnancy of a woman or birth of a child was. Sometimes it is not plainly stated, but oftentimes analyzing each record and using them together will make one capable of making a conclusion. Item 1. - Jane Howard, "Friends are God's apologies for relations." the father, she, her father or some other interested party would post the bond. Death records are similar to birth records, as it is not likely that both parents names would be listed. Sallie, Parker, Cynthia, and Mildred all received ditto marks for their last name. Burke County, Georgia 1867-1919 Indenture and apprenticeship records Some FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries maintain collections of previously loaned microfilms or microfiche. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. If you are researching in North Carolina, then the North Carolina Bastardy Bonds may be of great help in your research. -George Burns, "Where does the family start? The second hour is hands-on, and I want you to bring the deeds you've found along with your questions. 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. Google can also be a beneficial way to see if they are available in the area youre researching. The first person through the booth will pick it up and say, My folks cant be in here! Cradling the book, they look around to see if anyone is watching them and then turn to the index. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Depending on the time period and where your ancestor was born in the United States, the birth record would list who the mother was. 1730538. Vol. Each is present in your body. The record will need to be further analyzed and used with other records to learn more about the childs parents. You spot on the shelves a book titled Bastard Bonds. The South Carolina Department of Insurance requires brokers to post a $10,000 insurance broker bond. It reminds me of that old phrase, Mothers baby, daddys. The Film/Digital Notes contain a description of the microfilm or microfiche numbers. Answers. single.She had given birth to an illegitimate female. brought to the attention of the court, a warrant was issued and the . They are more typically found in court records. 20 August 2022, 1-3:30 pm [PAST EVENT], Eastern Standard Time: Join me for a two-hour lecture and workshop on Using Deed Records. Todd County, Kentucky 1820-1888 Indentures of apprenticeship Commissioners of the Roads, Lexington District (S.C.). District of Columbia 1812-1893 Indentures of apprenticeship Vol. Since illegitimate children often did not obtain inheritance, there is a possibility that the child may be mentioned in wills that they were a natural or base-born child. Now if we reach this point, then we have to dig a lot deeper into the lives of our ancestors. 4 State vs. Rachel WHITEMOORE A bond was signed before Drewy McDaniel on March 6, 1815 by Rachel WHITEMOORE, John WOFFORD and Isaac WOFFORD for the female bastard child born to Rachel WHITEMOORE on November 25, 1814. Using indirect and direct evidence will help conclude the legitimacy (or illegitimacy) of a person. ", "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. Seating is limited. Commissioners of the Poor, Anderson District (S.C.). -Elbert Hubbard, "Families are like fudge; mostly sweet with a few nuts." FamilySearch makes every effort to enable access dependent on decisions of record custodians and applicable laws. Information includes the names of the parents (Mary Masters and Henry Sims), amount of the bond ($250.00), conditions of the bond, date, and signatures of involved parties, A separate record, entitled Agency history record, has been written for the Commissioners of the Poor describing the functions and history of the office, South Carolina Magistrates Court (Anderson County), South Carolina Department of Archives and History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Spartanburg District (S.C.). It is also possible that it would include the word illegitimate alongside the birth information. Children born out of wedlock, like today, was a common occurrence. Click to reveal Money Transmitter Bond. 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. It is more likely that the fathers name would not be included in the birth record if the child was illegitimate. Happy Hunting! If she could not keep up financially, the mother might abandon her children, and they would be placed in an orphanage. Unfortunately the staff will not research these records. father was then served a warrant and required to post bond. It is one of those books that we sell and that every library should have as it covers about 30 counties in North Carolina. These require Microsoft Word and a Windows platform. Currituck Co., NC Bastardy Bonds 1830 - 1871 . After payment is received, you will receive an email from Southern Genealogy Books. This item is available on microfilm at this FamilySearch center. 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. Certain phrases could be found in christening records that reveal their illegitimacy. Sometimes the mother would post this bond, but this was very infrequent.[5]. Lets look at the situation a little bit before we jump to conclusions. Interlibrary Loans provide a quick way to order books and other physical materials from participating libraries around the world. A. WOFFORD A bond was signed before H. White, Magistrate, on January 21, 1856, by Wm. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1995-1996, High Density: {{copy.hd_shelf}}, {{copy.hd_shelfmark}}. An apprenticeship consisted of a contract between two parties, one of which is usually a minor (the apprentice) who is bound to the other person (the master) to serve him for a stated period of time, during which the master agrees to teach the apprentice an art, skill, or trade while providing complete maintenance. Search the history of over 797 billion The difficulties include using records that provide no surnames, the constant sale and breakup of families, and the lack of identification of fathers. 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. ", "If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you might as well make it dance! Lancaster, J.P., by Rachel WEST, James WOFFORD and James WEST.The mother was Rachel WEST who had given birth to an illegitimate female child. on the Internet. Tennessee 1778-1914: a collection of items including illegitimacy, adoption, etc. -Kendall Hailey, "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. An illegitimate child often used the mothers surname and was frequently prohibited from inheriting property.[2]. Scope/Contents: Includes volumes & boxes of bastardy bonds, arranged chronologically. and E.A. ", Follow the Witness: They May Have the Answer. Who is the person? I call these records yesteryears version of child support. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one" Cohabitation records do not provide the names of the wife or husband's parents. The record might give an indication of who the ancestor was living with at the time. Join my mailing list below to receive my posts and get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! View this catalog record in WorldCat for other possible copy locations. Pendleton County, West Virginia 1866-1925 bonds (including bastardy). All of the court records mentioned might be retrieved though Interlibrary Loans. As the child gets a little older, they might be bound out to another individual who is bound to the court to care for the child, feed them, educate them, train them in some profession and when they reach maturity they are given two suits of clothing one on and one off as well as the tools for their trade. L 54001 Pinckney District (S.C.). The microfilm may have been scanned, but have a contractual, data privacy, or other restriction preventing access. It is well known that many in the royal lines of any country are from these situations. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A bastardy bond is defined as a promise to pay a certain sum of money given by the father of an illegitimate child to ensure that no public monies would have to be spent on the child. October 21, 2017, accessed July 07, 2018. This event is $20. ***Downloadable PDF File. Bastardy bonds were typically posted by putative fathers of illegitimate children to insure that the child was supported without public expense. [7] The guardian might also be a relative of the apprentice. 2 State vs. Wm. 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). Mining the Census: Are You Finding Every Clue? Was it a local official? Lewis, Daniel: Bane, Mary Ann : 1859 . PINCKNEY DISTRICT Clerk of Court . 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. Its possible that someone could quickly assume that Elliott was Roswells middle name and he would still have the surname of Blair. Other states have bastardy bonds, but they are not as extensive. ", "No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished? A camera icon indicates items that are digitally available online. The county did not want to be held financially responsible for those children. CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SEAT! Another case is when the mother chooses to keep the child born out of wedlock. Raleigh, North Carolina : Filmed by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1970, High Density: {{copy.hd_shelf}}, {{copy.hd_shelfmark}}. Depending on the area, each apprentice record could be different. Location: 2A.311-312; MARS ID: 216.2. Join my mailing list below to learn about upcoming webinars. Clerk of Court. Be the first one to, Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). North Carolina has one of the best collections of bastardy records. The microfilm may be scheduled for future scanning. Vol. Commissioners of the Roads, The ArchiveGrid website uses HTTP CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW! They may be found in person at the county courthouses, if still preserved. The Genealogy Source Table Collection includes 10 blank, editable source tables for death certificates, city directories, obituaries and funeral programs. Otherwise, youll want to check through the county court records. Some FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries maintain collections of previously loaned microfilms or microfiche. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one", "Friends are God's apologies for relations. All of them are alive in this moment. An illegitimate child is when the mother and father were not married at the time of the childs birth. If you need a South Carolina money transmitter license in order to legally operate, you'll first need to post a money transmitter bond. 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. What was their life really like? A camera icon indicates items that are digitally available online. In order to assure the court they will never have to take care of the child, they preferred to obtain a number of signatures. 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. It is not a guarantee, but it is possible that it may mention that a person raised their niece or nephew. Mountain Press and Southern Genealogy Books, Downloadable PDF file, Betty J. College Advanced AA Gen. Class, November 2012, Robyn, Aaron, Karen, Katherine and Michael, October 2014, African-American Family History Conference, February 2015, African-American Genealogy Group Conference, October 2016, Central Maryland AAHGS, with Alice Harris, September 2015, Howard Comm. 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] The WOFFORD family is totally over-represented here! "While African-American genealogical research in many ways is like all genealogical research, the era of slavery makes the task especially challenging. Join the community of family history enthusiasts and FamilySearch employees to ask questions and discuss potential product enhancements. 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. 375,000 names. An illegitimate child can be recognized in birth records and when they seem out of place in the census records. Anderson County (S.C.). 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. Jefferson County, Tennessee Maintenance (bastardy) 1807-1857) Vol. Many times, if their ancestors came from North Carolina, they will find a name theyve been searching. North Carolina has extensive records of bastardy bonds for each county. The series continued but I don't have any more issues. If the woman refused to post bond or, declare the father, she was often sent to jail. Generally, catalog entries are written in the same language as the original record they describe. The bonds below were abstracted from files located in the NC State Archives, Raleigh, NC. 4 State vs. Polly WOFFORD A bond was signed on August 17, 1804 before Saml. These require Microsoft Word and a Windows platform. Although church records are not always available, church records are another good indicator to find out more information on whether your ancestor is illegitimate if government records were not created yet. Its not expected that the informant would know who the father was if the child was illegitimate. 2 State vs. Wm. south carolina bastardy bonds. Track CUSIPs, learn about issuers and dive deep into every South Carolina municipal bond. ", "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city;)", "Where does the family start? If you read the foreward on image 10, you will get the note that 'the reputed father was required to post bond. Bastardy bonds are not always available depending on the area but can be a good resource. This English bond system was carried forward when North Carolina became a state in 1789. Mountain Press and Southern Genealogy Books. United States & Canada 2nd Floor Film. Also, this record is indexed under the name of Dennis Waters. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 2 (1985): 174. doi:10.2307/2712897. Division of Archives and History (Main Author) Format: Manuscript/Manuscript on Film Language: English Publication: Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1995-1996 Physical: 70 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. VII, No. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. There is also a nine-year age gap between Mildred and Roswell in this census to signal that Roswell may be illegitimate if his mother was not one of the other females in the household. These bonds were intended to protect the county or parish from, the expense of raising the child. [6] But not all fathers filed and paid the bonds. By doing this you will not get apprenticeship records outside of the United States. A nosy neighbor? I still cringe when I see the words bastard and illegitimate in birth records. We go to the courthouses, libraries and other sources of information to find out more about the individuals. Real-time data on all CUSIPs, the latest muni bond news, the ins and outs of bond investing and track your municipal bond portfolio at the Premier site for Municpal bond investors. 13 March 2022, 1-2:30pm [PAST EVENT], Eastern Standard Time: Cant find some of your ancestors in the census? This blog is where I share family history methods, resources, tips and advice, with an emphasis on slave research, slavery and its aftermath. 330,000 online images. Bastardy bonds were typically posted by putative fathers of illegitimate children to insure that the child was supported without public expense. There is so much more to a person than when they are hatched-matched-dispatched. Insurance Broker Bond. 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. Illegitimacy," Moonfleet Family History, accessed July 03, 2018. Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Bertie, Brunswick, Buncomb, Burke, Bute, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Craven, Cumberland, Granville, Moore, New Hanover, Rowan, Rutherford, Surry, and Wake. To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or install another browser. I wonder how they established paternity back then? 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 Information includes the names of the parents (Mary Masters and Henry Sims), amount of the bond ($250.00 . ", "Families are like fudge; mostly sweet with a few nuts. A. WOFFORD One of thehidden gems inside court records are the aptly named Bastardy Bonds. These records, like much in genealogy, are another reminder that human behavior hasnt changed much. I have been a researcher, writer, and lecturer for over twenty-five years. In fact, it's not even past." College, Advanced AA Gen. Class, September 2009, Alice, Robyn and Lajoye, CM AAHGS, September 2017, Robyn and Andrea, NGS Conference, May 2014, I make extensive use of tables for organization, analysis and citation in my research, and they have proven very popular with genealogists. She was examined under oath and asked to declare the name of the childs father. When an unmarried woman was found to be with child, she was examined and required to provide the name of the father of the child. Children born out of wedlock, like today, was a common occurrence. It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl. Bastards were prohibited from inheriting property from the father unless legitimized. BASTARDY BONDS OF CABARRUS COUNTYsubmitted by Bill Furr. 164.132.169.30 If the childs named parent is the mother, then the child could likely have been born out of wedlock. Just like vital records, the church records may not list the fathers name, which would indicate illegitimacy. The bastardy bonds are not likely online for every county. Its not like they had DNA tests: Ive seen these records in Maryland, Tennessee andNorth Carolina, but Im sure they appear in the records of other states. The agreement may include a grant of money, clothing, and/or property upon completion of the term. Guardianship records can be resourceful but may not plainly state if a child was illegitimate. Bonds and records typically give the name of the father, his bondsman, as well as that of the mother and child, and the amount of the bond posted. See more details in the flier here and they are available for purchase for $10 . 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. brought to the attention of the court, a warrant was issued and the woman brought into Court. VII, No. Hmmm.) ", Sacket and Snider family papers, 1836-1848. 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. Family History Library. Origin: Clerk of Superior Court; Clerk of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions; Register of Deeds. See flier here. These bonds can be found in the FamilySearch Catalog under various title names such as: court, miscellaneous, loose papers, etc. North Carolina 1736-1957 Bastardy bonds and records The Film/Digital Notes contain a description of the microfilm or microfiche numbers. VII, No. -Winston Churchill, "The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never ever introduce yourself to had life not done it for you." These bonds were intended to protect the county or parish from. Descriptions of original bastardy bonds and records held by the State Archives are summarized in the catalog. If the father does not help financially or is not in the picture, the mother could have had a hard time supporting her children. To narrow down the search even more, include the state or the state and county that you are researching in to see what is available. There is no one specific record type that will guarantee to have the information about the father.