March Parish Bastardy Records

[lforbes]

I'm so happy to have found this forum, and am hoping someone can help me. My 4X's great-grandmother, Mary Brown, had an illigitimate child, John Blench Brown, on April 30, 1807. He was baptized in March Parish on May 18, 1807 (and again on Sept 19, 1808). A Brown researcher here in the States sent me a copy of the baptizim record for May 1807 and a research report that had been prepared for her. No where in the report was there a mention of "Bastardy Papers". If Mary (age 21) had been living with her parents, John and Ann Money Brown, would there still have been a "bastardy examination"? The report didn't say she was, but, neither did it mention any of the possible sources for more information, including the fathers name. Also, does anyone know why John B would have been baptized twice?

[Lizzy9]

Hi,

What evidence do you have which proves the same child was baptised twice? Do you know where the 'Blench' in his name originates?

[lforbes]

Hi Lizzy, thank you for the inquiry. The research report stated that both entries were for John Blench the base born son of Mary Brown. We assume the "Blench" was a family name but don't know its origin. The report also stated that there were numerous entries for the surname Blench in the Ely Probate Index for the parish of Chattaris, but none for March.

[Lizzy9]

Hi Iforbes,

Is it possible there were two Mary Browns' (not an uncommon name) who had illegitimate sons? I cannot think of a reason why the same child would be baptised twice - unless each baptism was in a different faith? In which church/chapel did the two baptisms take place?

[Lizzy9]

The research report stated that both entries were for John Blench the base born son of Mary Brown. We assume the "Blench" was a family name but don't know its origin. The report also stated that there were numerous entries for the surname Blench in the Ely Probate Index for the parish of Chattaris, but none for March.

By 'research report' do you mean a genealogy researcher was employed?

Chatteris is only about 7 miles from March.

[Lizzy9]

If you haven't already done so, I would suggest you contact Cambridgeshire Archives, here ......... http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/

[Peter Goodey]

a copy of the baptizim record for May 1807

By 'copy' do you mean a photographic reproduction of the original register? Was it by any chance marked "P" or "Pte" or "Private"?

He was baptized in March Parish on May 18, 1807

No. I think in that period March was a chapelry within the parish of Doddington. You need to take that into account when you contact Cambridgeshire Archives, which I would also recommend that you do. They have a research service.

[Copper]

I have ancestors in Chatteris. Mine were yeoman/gentleman farmers. At least two of them had illegitimate children and there aren't any bastardy papers. One child was mentioned in his father's will so I guess the father paid for his keep. This would have kept the parish happy. The other ancestor actually had several children with his housekeeper and they all lived together, so again the children would not have been a burden to the parish.

Blench is a name I recognise from Chatteris. I suspect that a Mr Blench may well have been the father of Mary's child.

[lforbes]

I guess it's possible the two entries were for different children, but, both having the same middle name made me think it wasn't probable. I don't know which church/chapel. I originally found the entry on the CFHS website and it only said March Parish. Looking through their publications for sale, the only church posting records early enough was St. Wendreda.

[Peter Goodey]

If you really want to pursue this, you'll want to see the parish (or chapelry) registers for yourself. You can order the films through the Mormons.