Bastardy Order

[caliope]

I'm hoping someone may be able to help...

I'm wondering where/if I may be able to obtain a bastardy order for an illegitimate relative.
He was born in St.Pancras (Middlesex) workhouse. His mother signed a declaration stating his father's name who was "late of Woodstock Oxford" (dead or moved?). I've checked the IGI for St. Pancras and there are Poor Rate books, Admissions and Discharge books, and Birth/Death/ Burial books. I don't know if any of these would give me the information I need. Can anyone suggest where I might look to see if this information exists?

P.S. I'm not in the UK and am hoping it is something I may order on the internet or through the LDS church.

Thank you for any/all replies.

[Geoffers]

The important bit needed to guide you is a date. Prior to the Poor Law Amendment Act 1844, a magistrate enquired of the mother of an illegitimate child as to the identity of the father. An examination certificate was completed naming the father. A Bastardy Order may then be served on the father - if he absocnded a warrant could be issued for his arrest. The system was open to abuse.

These papers are usually stored in the local Record Office covering your parish. Such records may not have survived, an examination may not have been made and they may not be available through a mormon church record centre.

After the Poor Law Amendment Act, the system changed. The mother of an illegitimate child could apply to the Petty Sessions (a court) for an order to be made against a named father to care for a child.

'Late of Woodstock, Oxford' would suggest to me that someone once lived there but has moved.

Geoffers

[caliope]

Thank you for that background information, Geoffers. The birth took place in 1827 and the mother stated at that time, before workhouse officials, that she had never been married and then named her son's father. This was a sworn declaration but I don't know if it was the same thing as you described was necessary prior to 1844. If the declaration was not a prequel to a bastardy order, any ideas as to why someone would make a declaration like this would be appreciated.

Can you or anyone advise which local Records Office would be the best bet for the St. Pancras workhouse?

Thank you for your help!

[Mythology]

London Metropolitan Archives.
E.g., ...
LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN 1825 May - 1829 Jan X030/070
SAINT PANCRAS PARISH CHURCH: EUSTON ROAD, CAMDEN: Poor law records
Register of Workhouse Inmates, arranged alphabetically, showing ages and dates of discharge

I just stuck the one year in, 1827, so that I didn't get too many results to plough through - if you try harder than I did, you'll probably find more of interest.

[Geoffers]

The birth took place in 1827 and the mother stated at that time, before workhouse officials, that she had never been married and then named her son's father.

She would have been questioned by the workhouse officials in the same way as a parish. The declaration/examination certificate were obtained with a view to trying to locate the father to get him to pay some dosh to look after the child. What survives is variable - you may be able to locate a Bastardy Order, I thankfully haven't had to use London records so do follow Mythology's link to LMA and I hope that takes you somewhere.

Geoffers

[Elly]

do follow Mythology's link to LMA and I hope that takes you somewhere.

In the event that it doesn't produce the goods, you might want to try Camden Local Studies, which has a lot of pre-1834 poor law records for St Pancras.

Elly

[caliope]

Thank you everyone for the information and great websites!