There is so much more to a person than when they are hatched-matched-dispatched. ", "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. October 1, 2019. State vs. Alexander PREWETT A bond was signed on March 25, 1826, before James Hammett, Justice of the Quorum, by Alexander PREWETT, Isaac WOFFORD Jr. and John WOFFORD.The case involved Clarendy BETTERTON "now Clarindy RAMPLEY, wife of William RAMPLEY".Clarendy had given birth to an illegitimate male, born on October 15, 1818. The bond indemnified or compensated the parish against any future costs until the child was thirteen years of age or had been apprenticed out. It is also possible that it would include the word illegitimate alongside the birth information. That gives us two people to add to Dennis clusterthey are likely close friends or family members. Item 1. If that child was your ancestor, youd have an exact birthdate pre-dating the statewide birth records. ", "Call it a clan, call it a network, all it a tribe, call it a family. Information includes the names of the parents (Mary Masters and Henry Sims), amount of the bond ($250.00 . and E.A. "The past is not dead. Other papers may include presentments against and examinations of . What was their life really like? A. WOFFORD A bond was signed before H. White, Magistrate, on January 21, 1856, by Wm. No superior alternative has yet been found." 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.. This should cause a red flag, especially if the mother is beyond child-bearing age and there were no daughters that might be the potential mother.[3]. These bonds were intended to protect the county or parish from, the expense of raising the child. 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. Cohabitation bonds and records document the efforts of freedmen to register and legalize their marital status with the county after emancipation at the end of the Civil War. The record will need to be further analyzed and used with other records to learn more about the childs parents. Format. Once these are found, then they begin to want to fill out the details of the information on each of the individuals in their charts. father was then served a warrant and required to post bond. An illegitimate child can be recognized in birth records and when they seem out of place in the census records. This English bond system was carried forward when North Carolina became a state in 1789. North Carolina bastardy bonds - volume I - FamilySearch Click in the download box for the file to automatically download. The Film/Digital Notes contain a description of the microfilm or microfiche numbers. American Quarterly 37, no. Unfortunately the staff will not research these records. Anything that happens now also happened in the past. Generally, catalog entries are written in the same language as the original record they describe. This blog is where I share family history methods, resources, tips and advice, with an emphasis on slave research, slavery and its aftermath. These records are a possible way to learn more about your ancestor if they were the apprentice. South Carolina Department of Archives and History Raleigh, North Carolina : Filmed by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1970, High Density: {{copy.hd_shelf}}, {{copy.hd_shelfmark}}. The record might give an indication of who the ancestor was living with at the time. 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. I am an engineer by day, but my true passion lies in genealogy. In September 1892, Isabella Battle charged that William Baker did seduce and begat her with child under the promise that he would marry her:. These bonds are not yet indexed. 4 State vs. Polly WOFFORD A bond was signed on August 17, 1804 before Saml. 2 State vs. Wm. Join my mailing list below to receive my posts and get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! Register now! I love to hear from my readers. The "Bastardy Bonds" of North Carolina contains bonds posted because of the birth or impending. They may be found in person at the county courthouses, if still preserved. 1730538. Interlibrary Loans provide a quick way to order books and other physical materials from participating libraries around the world. Bonds - MunicipalBonds.com Municipalbonds.com Go Premium for Free Log In Home News Market Activity Screener Education Bond Insurance My Bonds Invest In Munis 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. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW! If the woman refused to post bond or, declare the father, she was often sent to jail. Wilkes County Bastardy Bonds See flier for more details. North Carolina bastardy bonds by Camin, Betty J; Camin, Edwin A Publication date 1990 Topics Illegitimate children Publisher Mount Airy, N.C. : B.J. At your request I have finally made available for viewing past popular webinars! Henderson County North Carolina Bastardy Bonds 1830 - 1870. 13 March 2022, 1-2:30pm [PAST EVENT], Eastern Standard Time: Cant find some of your ancestors in the census? [1], An illegitimate child could be very well hidden, as the family did not want the public to know that the children was illegitimate. If she could not keep up financially, the mother might abandon her children, and they would be placed in an orphanage. Bastardy bonds and records may also be available on third party websites. I have been a researcher, writer, lecturer and teacher for over twenty years. 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. 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. 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. I hope youll sign up to receive my postsif you do, youll get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! ", Follow the Witness: They May Have the Answer. Newspapers can be searched to find obituaries of the people who took the illegitimate child in. The colonies established many laws based on a . Attention: This site does not support the current version of your web browser. Lancaster, J. P. by Polly WOFFORD, Samuel SHEARBUT and James WOFFORD.The mother was Polly WOFFORD who had given birth to an illegitimate male. 3 State vs. Polly WOFFORD and Micajah BARNETT A bond was signed before Michael Gaffney, J. Q., by Polly WOFFORD and Micajah BARNETT.The mother, Polly WOFFORD, had given birth to an illegitimate female, born on June 10, 1817. Ideally, they would list the names of the parents or guardian. Currituck County Bastardy Bonds - NCGenWeb So, what are bastardy bonds? south carolina bastardy bonds. Hmmm.) Mining the Census: Are You Finding Every Clue? An illegitimate child often used the mothers surname and was frequently prohibited from inheriting property.[2]. North Carolina. Guardianship records can be resourceful but may not plainly state if a child was illegitimate. Vol. A camera icon indicates items that are digitally available online. The idea of illegitimacy usually comes from oral histories. The microfilm may be scheduled for future scanning. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2a15e9cac799df Bastardy bonds, 1873-1878 - FamilySearch 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. Illegitimacy," Moonfleet Family History, accessed July 03, 2018. A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is one of those books that we sell and that every library should have as it covers about 30 counties in North Carolina. The required bond amount is between $50,000 and $250,000. The father is usually not specified. Each is present in your body. Some FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries maintain collections of previously loaned microfilms or microfiche. PINCKNEY DISTRICT Clerk of Court . Only the mother can give the assurance that this is the father. See flier for details; cost of this event is $25. These bonds were used in the original colonies in America. State vs. Rachel WEST/James WOFFORD/James West On May 9, 1801 a bond was signed before Saml. This event is $12. Children born out of wedlock, like today, was a common occurrence. Salt Lake City, Utah : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1995-1996, High Density: {{copy.hd_shelf}}, {{copy.hd_shelfmark}}. FamilySearch makes every effort to enable access dependent on decisions of record custodians and applicable laws. 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. 375,000 names. Chatham County, Georgia 1890-1950 Miscellaneous bonds (bastardy etc) All of them are alive in this moment. The Genealogy Source Table Collection includes 10 blank, editable source tables for death certificates, city directories, obituaries and funeral programs. I still cringe when I see the words bastard and illegitimate in birth records. 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. ***Downloadable PDF File. The microfilm may have been scanned, but have a contractual, data privacy, or other restriction preventing access. She was examined under oath and asked to declare the name of the childs father. Cohabitation records do not provide the names of the wife or husband's parents. Depending on the circumstances and time period of the parents, an illegitimate child could end up in orphan records. Masters, Mary, of Anderson District (S.C.). 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. Bastardy Bonds Book North Carolina FamilySearch Community "Illegitimate Ancestors," Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, accessed July 03, 2018. This screen shows the complete catalog entry of the title you selected. Anderson County (S.C.). 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. Smith.). Commissioners of the Roads, The ArchiveGrid website uses HTTP -Unknown, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city;)" Children born out of wedlock, like today, was a common occurrence. single.She had given birth to an illegitimate female. 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. Online Records - South Carolina Join me as I present this NEW webinar that covers why we miss our ancestors in these records and presents numerous strategies to assist in finding every clue in census records. ", "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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. All too often, the reader will jump to conclusions that the name means they are the father of the child. This lifelong quest has helped me to better know my familys past. In many states, the fathers of these children had to post bond that they would care for the child. Join the community of family history enthusiasts and FamilySearch employees to ask questions and discuss potential product enhancements. BASTARDY BONDS OF CABARRUS COUNTYsubmitted by Bill Furr. 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. Burke County, Georgia 1867-1919 Indenture and apprenticeship records Sims, Henry, of Anderson District (S.C.). North Carolina bastardy bonds : Camin, Betty J - Internet Archive Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. If you are searching for bonds in Western North Carolina counties,I can save you some time searching. Ive taken back reclaimed some of that lost memory, especially that of my enslaved ancestors. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Lewis, Daniel: Bane, Mary Ann : 1859 . If the father does not help financially or is not in the picture, the mother could have had a hard time supporting her children. Linda Gordon, "Single Mothers and Child Neglect, 1880-1920." In this case, Walter Wallacelost and had to pay court fees, post bond and pay finesin addition to other charges. 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. By doing this you will not get apprenticeship records outside of the United States. In doing genealogical research, we often ignore the sources where we will find the information because we think it is too Mountain Press, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, Beyond the Birth, Marriage and Death Dates, Finding Family History in Federal Records. It is one of those books that we sell and that every library should have as it covers about 30 counties in North Carolina. Some states required each county to have a separate book for the Bastards in the county, or in many cases, the county makes references to them in their county minute book. Just like vital records, the church records may not list the fathers name, which would indicate illegitimacy. Who's Your Daddy? Bastardy Records > Reclaiming Kin They may be found in person at the county courthouses, if still preserved. Sherri Abromavage, "Bastardy Bonds in General," Genealogy.com, accessed July 03, 2018. October 21, 2017, accessed July 07, 2018. ", "If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you might as well make it dance! 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. Bastardy Bonds This bond of indemnification or bastardy bond ensured that the father was responsible for the child. 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. multiplesons1.5294187457446106E12 . This event is $25. You are the continuation of each of these people. 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. This item is available on microfilm at this FamilySearch center. Lets look at the situation a little bit before we jump to conclusions. The bastardy bonds are not likely online for every county. The series continued but I don't have any more issues. North Carolina Bastardy Bonds - Mountain Press and Southern Genealogy Books (Media Note: If you quote a post, please credit me by name, Robyn N. 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 This item is available on microfilm at this FamilySearch center. In the Parish Chest: Bastardy Bonds - KindredPast Many times, if their ancestors came from North Carolina, they will find a name theyve been searching. Just go to my Vimeo page and make your selection. Its not expected that the informant would know who the father was if the child was illegitimate. Some FamilySearch centers and affiliate libraries maintain collections of previously loaned microfilms or microfiche. Through additional research, Roswell was indeed an illegitimate child, and Nathan Blair took Roswell Elliott in when he was young. The bastardy bonds are not likely online for every county. VII, No. Start your year off with tips and strategies that can help you in the new year & beyond. This type of situation occurs frequently when one finds they are descendants from royalty. Answers. These collections may be found in the FamilySearch Catalog, under various titles such as business, court, and public records. 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. Washington County, District of Columbia 1802-1811 Indentures of apprenticeship recorded in the Orphans Court It is well known that many in the royal lines of any country are from these situations. Find everything about South Carolina municipal bonds. Birth records were not as consistent as Quaker monthly minutes, but both places should be searched. FamilySearch makes every effort to enable access dependent on decisions of record custodians and applicable laws. Wilkes County, North Carolina Bastardy Bonds 1871-1883 Microfilm Roll C.104.10002 1999, Faye Jarvis Moran, Alexandria, Virginia. ), Baptized William Smith, son of Sarah Smith and the imputed son of William Brown., This means that William Brown does not accept the child as his.[4]. There are various court records available that could indicate more information about an illegitimate child. 7537377. ", "Families are like fudge; mostly sweet with a few nuts. District of Columbia 1812-1893 Indentures of apprenticeship 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. Illogical Dates, Missing Parents, Bastardy Bonds: What to Do If Your Generally, catalog entries are written in the same language as the original record they describe. Bastards were persons whose parents were not married to one another at the time of birth. Depending on the area, each apprentice record could be different. This signals that the child was possibly illegitimate. . 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.). -George Burns, "Where does the family start? Certain scenarios will be easier to spot than others. I recently came across some old copies of "Upper South Carolina Genealogy and History", a quarterly publication of the Piedmont Historical Society.In December of 1988, they began running a series of abstracts of Bastardy Processes [ sorry folks, that's what they were called!] 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. Vol. The difficulties include using records that provide no surnames, the constant sale and breakup of families, and the lack of identification of fathers. Bastardy bonds (1 unlabeled volume) 1873-1878. Henderson County North Carolina Bastardy Bonds 1830 - 1870 - RootsWeb Other states have bastardy bonds, but they are not as extensive. Bastardy bonds, 1837 | WorldCat.org To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or install another browser. VI, No. After payment is received, you will receive an email from Southern Genealogy Books. The librarian quietly explained that throughout legal history, bastardy bonds imposed sanctions on the parents of those born out of wedlock. Check what records are available for the location youre searching. VII, No. Bastardy Bonds and Records, 1735-1966 - State Archives of North Bastardy bonds were typically posted by putative fathers of illegitimate children to insure that the child was supported without public expense. 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]. To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version or install another browser. These records for Maryland were recorded (oddly) in the deed records. 2 (1985): 174. doi:10.2307/2712897. Certain phrases could be found in christening records that reveal their illegitimacy. I also have a Slavery and Freedom Collection available for $20. Who is the person? It is a good reason to speculate and research further if a story is passed down that an ancestor was either adopted or illegitimate. brought to the attention of the court, a warrant was issued and the woman brought into Court. It is important to analyze relationships when no relationships to head of household were given. When one finds an illegitimate child in their background, then that line is stopped unless the mother gives some indication as to who the father might be. We go to the courthouses, libraries and other sources of information to find out more about the individuals. The courts then will go to her family and require them to get a number of signatures of men who state they will see to it that the child is cared for until it becomes of age. "While African-American genealogical research in many ways is like all genealogical research, the era of slavery makes the task especially challenging. This page was last edited on 17 May 2022, at 15:02. If the childs named parent is the mother, then the child could likely have been born out of wedlock. Through Reclaiming Kin, I share tips on genealogy skillbuilding for all genealogists, and on researching slavery and the enslaved. If you are researching in North Carolina, then the North Carolina Bastardy Bonds may be of great help in your research. associate-caitlin-crowley Sometimes family members can be appointed to be the childs guardian, and it will be included in guardianship records in the county. -Kendall Hailey, "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. Author: Anderson County (S.C.). Pendleton County, West Virginia 1866-1925 bonds (including bastardy). Williford and Saml. VII, No. {I've specifically dealt with the ones in North Carolina and cannot vouch for the other colonies.}