Dorchester Poor Law Records

Entry in the Casebook of Sir Francis Ashley JP [1614-1635]

7th April 1626: Ordered that John LAYNES should pay 12d weekly towards the maintenance of a base child born to Ann TITTMAN, widow in the Parish of Holy Trinity Dorchester".

Sir Francis ASHLEY JP Recorder of Dorchester

[Note:- John bastard sonne of Anne TETMAN [TITTMAN] baptised 19 March 1625/6 at Holy Trinity church in Dorchester]

Dorset Borough of Dorchester - 23rd Aug 1766

At the General Quarter Sessions of the peace of our Lord the King Held in and for the said Borough on Monday the fifth day of October in the thirty Fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King, Defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Five before Charles WHITE Esquire Mayor ⁽¹⁾, Nathaniel BOND Esquire Recorder ⁽²⁾ these two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace and of the locum for the said Borough James CHAFY, Roben STICKLAND and other Justices of our said Lord King assigned to keep the peace of our said Lord King in and for the said Borough And also to hear and determine divers felonies trespassing & other misdemeaners done or committed in the said Borough.

Whereas it appears unto this Court as well upon the complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of the parish of All Saints in the said Borough as upon Oath of Sarah CRUET of the said parish single woman taken the tenth day of December last part before Christopher ARDEN Mayor ⁽¹⁾ and one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the said Borough that she the said Sarah CRUET was then with child which child was likely to be born a Bastard, and to be chargeable to the said Parish of All Saints ⁽³⁾

And that James SEARLE of the Borough aforesaid Journeyman Carpenter was the father of the said child ⁽⁴⁾

And whereas the said James SEARLE entered into a Recognizance to appear at the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held in and for the said Borough then and there to abide by and perform such order or orders as then to be made pursuant to the statute in that case made and provided

And whereas it appears upon examination of the said Sarah CRUET this day taken on Oath in Court that on or about the eleventh day of August last past she was delivered of a female bastard child in the said parish of All Saints which child is now living and chargeable thereto and that the said James SEARLE the father of the said bastard child this Court upon examination of the cause and circumstance of the premise doth order that as well for the better relief of the said parish of All Saints as for the sustentation & maintenance of the said bastard child that the said James SEARLE shall pay or cause to be paid unto the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the said parish of All Saints or to some or one of them the sum of twenty shillings for and towards trhe lying in of the said Sarah CRUET & the maintenance of the said bastard child for the first month

And this Court doth further order the said James SEARLE shall likewise pay or cause to be paid unto the churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of the said parish of All Saints for the time being or to some or one of them the sum of one shilling and six pence weekly and every week from the end of the said first month for and towards the keeping sustenation & maintenance of the said bastard child & during so long as the said bastard child shall be chargeable to the said parish of All Saints

And this Court doth also further order that the said Sarah CRUET shall pay or cause to be paid unto the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of All Saints for the time being to some or one of them the sum of six pence weekly & every week towards the maintenance of the said bastard child for and during so long time as the said bastard child shall be chargeable to the said parsh in case she refuses to take care of and to name the said child herself.

Examined Thomas STICKLAND Junior

DORSET: The order of Francis FANE Esq and the Revd George Tito BRICE Clerk ⁽⁵⁾ two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace in the said County - one whereof is of the Quorum, and both residing next unto the limits of the parish of within the parish of Blandford Forum in the said County made the eight day of September in the 38th year of the reign of his said Majesty King George the third ⁽⁶⁾ concerning a male Bastard child lately born in the parish of Blandford Forum aforesaid of the body of Sarah HOW single woman.

Whereas: it hath appeared unto us the said Justices, as well upon the complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of Blandford Forum as upon the oath of the said Sarah HOW that the said Sarah HOW on or about the now last past was delivered of a male Bastard child at and within the said Parish of Blandford Forum in the said County and that the said Bastard child is likely to be chargeable to the said parish of Blandford Forum and further that James BOND of Dorchester in the said County of Dorset did beget the said Bastard child on the body of her the said Sarah HOW

And Whereas: The said James BOND hath appeared before us for that purpose but hath not shown any sufficient cause why he the said James BOND shall not be the reputed father of the said Bastard Child we therefore upon examination of the cause and circumstances of the premises as well as upon the oath of the said Sarah HOW as otherwife, do hereby adjudge him the said James BOND to be the reputed father of the said Bastard child And thereupon we do order, as well for the better Relief of the said Sarah HOW as for the sustentation and Relief of the said Bastard child that the said James BOND shall and do forthwith upon notice of this our order, pay or cause to be paid to the said churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish or to some of them the sum of twenty shillings for and towards the lying in of the said Sarah HOW and the maintenance of the said Bastard child to the time of making this our order.

And we do hereby further order, that the said James BOND shall likewise pay or cause to be paid to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of Blandford Forum for the time being, or to some or one of them the sum of one shilling weekly and every week from the present time, for and towards the keeping, sustention and maintenance of the said Bastard child for during so long time as the said Bastard child shall be chargeable to the said parish of Blandford Forum.

And we do further order that the said Sarah HOW shall also pay or cause to be paid to the said Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of Blandford Forum for the time being or of some or one of them the sum of six pence weekly and every week so long as the said Bastard child shall be chargeable to the said parish of Blandford Forum in case she shall not nurse and take care of the said child herself. Given under our hands and seals the day and year first written above.

COMPAINT: Being made unto this Court by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the parish of Forthington in the said County that Mary LUCAS of the Parish of Forthington was on the 24th day of October now last past delivered of a Female Bastard child within the said parish of Forthington⁽⁹⁾ and that Samuel LEGG late of the Parish of All Saints within the Borough of Dorchester in the said County Labourer is charged to be the reputed father of the said Female Bastard Child and

Whereas the said Samuel LEGG hath now appeared in this Court to answer the said charge Where upon and upon debate of the said matter and considering the cause and circumstances of the premises THIS COURT doth hereby adjudge the said Complaint to be true & the said Bastard child to be now chargeable to the said parish of Forthington and likeely so to continue and also him the said Samuel LEGG to be the reputed father of the said Bastard Child and this Court therefore as well for the better relief of the said parish of Forthington as also for the relief support and maintenance of the said Bastard child doth hereby order that the said Samuel LEGG do and shall upon notice and service of this order pay or cause to be paid unto the said churchwardens and overseers of the said parish of Forthington the sum of three pounds one shilling and six pence for and towards the lying in of the said Mary LUCAS and the maintenance of the said Female Bastard child to this present time And ALSO doth hereby further order that the siad Samuel LEGG do and shall pay or cause to be paid unto the churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of Forthington for the time being or so or one of them the sum of one shilling and six pence of lawful money weekly and every week from hence forth for and towards the support and maintenance of the said Bastard child for and during so long a time as the said Bastard child shall be chargeable to the said parish of Forthington AND that the said Mary LUCAS the mother do and from the same time and in like manner so long as the said bastard child shall as aforesaid be cahrgeable to the said parish of Forthington in case she shall refuse to nurture the same also pay unto the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of Forthington for the time being or one of them weekly and every week the sum of ninepence of like lawful money to be by them applied for and towards the further support and maintenance of the said Bastard Child and in ease of the Inhabitants of the said parish of Forthington

Note:- I have now located the Churchwarden Accounts for All Saints Parish for the period 1810-1828 which have been imaged but not indexed by Ancestry.com. For some reason beyond me they were just added to the end of their "Dorset England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1538-1812 File? They start at image 284 and run to the last image 580. Some of these images are very faded but by inverting the colours and changing contrast or reducing brightness I have managed to read nearly all of them. In 9 cases we now have the name of the father so I have added comment to baptisms where found and included the relevent image reference numbers for some of the on going payments) The Births affected are:-

Baptisms at All Saints Church:
(1) 27th Nov 1815 - James base born son of Elizabeth MULLETT - Father Thomas HOW
(2) 17th Sep 1818 - Frederic base born son of Elizabeth MULLETT - Father William HANHAM (Arrested for Bastardy)
(3) 10th May 1819 - Maria base born daughter of Ann GREY [GRAY] - Father George STICKLAND
(4) 2nd July 1820 - Eliza base born daughter of Maria LEGG - Father James SCARED (arrested for Bastardy)
(5) 18th Apr 1823 - John White base born son of Maria LEGG - father Mr.WHITE (no first name given)
(6) 19th Jun 1823 - Joseph Richard Fumage base born son of Elizabeth TOMS - Father Richard FUMAGE


 

(7) 18th Jun 1826 - William base born son of Louisa FOX - Father William MASTERS

Baptism at Holy Trinity Church:
(8) 1st Aug 1819 - Robert base born son of Ann [Hannah] PURCHASE - father James SCARD

No Baptism traced:
Illegitimate son born April 1812 in All Saints Parish of Mary PURCHASE - Father John TIZARD

1820: John BALSON in account: [i.e. Receipts]

96 Rates at £2. 19s 11d ----------- Total £287. 12s 0d

Received of W^m [William] HANHAM for the illegitimate child of Eliz [Elizabeth] MULLETT from Sep 1[st] 1820 to April 6[th] 1821 31 Weeks at 1s.6d p[per] week ------------£2. 6s. 6d [NOTE: Link to arrest warrant 9th Sep 1818 for William HANHAM on a charge of Bastardy - Frederic the base born son of Elizabeth MULLETT was bapt at All Saints Church Dorchester 17th Sep 1818]

[Note:- Churchwarden Accts for All Sts included with imaging of Births Marriages & Burials 1538-1812 File Ancestry.com Starts Image 285: At Image 426 Account Receipts 15th Apr 1819 Received of William HAMMOND? towards the expences of Elizabeth MULLETT £2. and underneath another entry " Received of William HAMMOND for Elizabeth MULLETT Child 25 weeks Pay at 1s 6d per week to 11th of April 1819 --£1. 17s.6d.-- and many others eg 443; 453; 476; 487; 493 ;503]

Received of Mr.G. STICKLAND for W^o [Widow] GRAYS Bastard from Nov. 3 1820 to April 6 1821 22 weeks at 3s per week ------ £3 6s 0d

[Note:- Churchwarden Accts for All Sts included with imaging of Births Marriages & Burials 1538-1812 File Ancestry.com Starts Image 285: At Image 453 - 1820 Receipts " Received of Mr George STICKLAND for W^o [Widow] GRAY's Bastard £4.7s.0d ]

Received of Thos. [Thomas] HOWE in part for the illegitimate child of Eliz [Elizabeth] MULLET --------£1. 9s.0d [Note:- James the base born son of Elizabeth MULLETT was baptsied at All Saints Church 27th Nov 1815]

[Note:- Earlier Churchwarden Accts for All Sts included with imaging of Births Marriages & Burials 1538-1812 File Ancestry.com Starts Image 285: At Image 392 Receipts:- By cash of Thomas HOW for base born child of Elizabeth MULLETT to the 20th day of Oct 1816 £3. 1s.6d. Also Image 401 and others eg Image 426; 443; 453; 487]

Received of John TIZARD for the illegitimate child of Mary PURCHASE from Nov 3 1820 to Feby 23rd 1821 - 16 weeks at 1s. 6d. ----£1. 4s.0d

[Note:- Earlier Churchwarden Accts :- [Image 316] Expenses paid between 1st March and 1st April 1812 "Paid Mary PURCHASE being her laying in month (i.e. to give birth) I have checked all 4 churches in Dorchester and Fordington around this date and cannot trace a baptism." ----[Image 317] Expenses 1st to end April 1812 "Paid Mary PURCHASE 4s. 6d" ----[Image 323 Expenses 1st May to 7th June 1812 Paid Mary PURCHASE Child 1/6d for 6 weeks Total 9shillings --- payments then continue on a regular basis until:-

21st May 1813:- [Image 335] --By John TIZARD for the Baseborn child of Mary PURCHASE to the 30th Day of April 1813 at 1s. 6d per week £4.19s.6d - This is a large sum so they are recovering payments made for over a year . The collection from John TIZARD of maintenance continues on a regular basis. eg Image 426; 453]

Received of James SCARD in part payment for the illegitimate child of Maria LEGG ---- £1. 3s.0d [NOTE: Link to arrest warrant 29th Mar 1821 for James SCARD on a charge of Bastardy ]

[Note:- Earlier Churchwarden Accounts for All Sts included with imaging of Births Marriages & Burials 1538-1812 File Ancestry.com Starts Image 285: At Image 453 - 1820 Receipts " Received of John SCARD for the illegitimate Child of Maria LEGG from June 30th to Nov3rd 18 weeks at 1s.6d --Total £1.7s.0d --- Also Image 458 " Between 2nd Mar 1821 to 30 Mar 1821- Paid Expenses attending James SCARD for Bastard" -- 12d --- Also Image 460 : Received of James SCARD in part of payment for the illegitimate child of Maria LEGG £0. 1s. 3d" - : - "Expenses attending James SCARD for Bastardy at the Kings Arms Tap by the Constables £1. 3s. 6d" - Also - Image 468 "2nd Sep 1821 Paid Town Clerks fees concerning James SCARD --14s - -- Also 487 paid to Jan 1822

Also 487 Now making payments in addition for child by Maria LEGG but also Illegitimate child baptised at St Peters Church in Dorchester Robert base born son of Ann [Hannah] PURCHASE , on 01 Aug 1819, abode The Hospital in St Peters Parish in this town, a serving woman.]

There is one entry of interest on the right hand page for:-

Expenses attending James SCARD for Bastardy at the Kings Arms Tap by the Constables --- £1.3s.6d

1822: Messrs HAWKINS and GRAY [Receipts]

192 Rates at £2. 19s.5½d --- Total £570. 16s 0d.

Received of William HANNAM [HANHAM] for the illegitimate Child of Elizabeth MULLETT to the 18th March 1822 ---£3. 13s. 6d [Same as 1820 above]

Received of James SCARD for the Illegitimate Child of Hannah PURCHASE to the 21st Nov 1821 ----£3. 8s. 0d

[Note:- - Robert the base born son of Ann [Hannah] PURCHASE was baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 1st Aug 1819 Also later payments to both children eg Image 487 paid up to 1822]

Received of James SCARD for the Illegitimate Child of Maria LEGG to 18th Oct 1821 ---- £2.10s. 0d {Same as 1820 above]

Received of Thomas HOWE for the illegitimate Child of Elizabeth MULLETT to the 17th Nov 1820 ---£1. 0s. 0d {Same as 1820 above]

Received of George STICKLAND on Account of money advanced to the Widow GRAY to the 29th March 1822 ---- £7. 13s. 0d {Same as 1820 above]

W.R.ROLLS Error 5th June 1820 --- £0. 4s. 0d

Soldiers wives --- £0.9s. 4½d

Received of the Parish of Tiverton by a suspended order of Removal of William HAYDON --- £6. 8s 3½d

Received of the Late Overseers --- £26. 15s. 9d

Grand Total ---- £622. 17s 11d

John GUPPY Junior 'In' Accounts

Received of Mr. Clare -----£99.10s.10d

48 Rates at £3 .0s. 0½d ----£144. 2s. 0d

Received of M^r FURMIDGE [FURMAGE] 24 weeks pay for the child of Elizabeth TOMS making paid to Feby 10th 1827 ----£1.16ys. 0d

of Job Trevilian ----£1. 0s. 0d

of M^r W^m [William] MASTERS for the child of Louisa FOX as per order from Magistrate ----£3.11s. 0d

D^o [Ditto] for 37 week pay for D^o [Ditto] at 1s 4d per week to March 24th 1827 ---- £2. 9s. 4d

Hennings Notes ---- £3.10s. 0d

Received of Collector of Excise for Soldiers Wives for Articles late Jⁿ [John] TAYLORS (deceased) ----£0. 10s. 0d

1827 April 12 mths ----£256. 14s.

Genealogical Notes: -

(1). Link to Mayors of Dorchester which confirms Christopher ARDEN was Mayor in 1794 followed by Charles WHITE in 1795

(2). Link to a listing of Recorders of Dorchester for more information on Nathaniel BOND

(3). There is no trace of a bastard female child being baptised in Dorchester

(4). Note:- The only other reference that I can locate of a James SEARLE is a document called a 'Vagrants Pass' issued at Shaftsbury by J Obowen Esq a JP for Southampton in respect of a James SEARLE and Elizabeth his wife who were apprehended as vagrants in Overton. Overton is situated between Andover and Basingstoke in Hampshire. The order is for their conveyance together with a Horse and Cart from Shatftsbury to Henstridge in the County of Somerset on the 21st May 1787, a distance of 10 miles. This is just one step in the chain of orders that would have been issued to return him to Ashburton in Devon his place of settlement. Further research is needed ( in Ashburton Devon) to establish whether this is the same James SEARLE referred to in this bastardy order.

(5). Revd George Tito BRICE was ordained a deacon at St Peters le Poor of London on 18th May 1788 and served his curacy from the 19th May 1788 at Holy Trinity with St Martin (annexed Arne Chapel) . He was ordained a priest at Bristol Cathedral on 21st Sep 1788 and appears to have been made Rector of St Michael's, Holy Trinity and St Peters in Wareham in Feb 1790. He was also curate at Shapwick 17th July 1793 and Vicar of Great Canford 27th Dec 1798.

(6). The 38th year in the reign of George the Third ran from 25th Oct 1795 to 24th Oct 1796 so the correct year is 1796.

(7). Betty was a colloquial form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth MOORES had her base born child James baptised at Sherborne on 21st April 1767. See also the marriage of David CASHIER to Jane WILLIAMS at Charminster16th June 1766 for more information

(8). "James the son of Jane SHEPERD Base Born" was baptised at Blandford Forum on 28th December 1777.

(9). Mary LUCAS had her Bartard daughter baptised as Elizabeth at St Georges Church in Fordington on 25th Dec 1801