This is a copy of a document from the Derbyshire Quarter Sessions regarding Hannah Byard (the daughter of John and Mary Byard). It shows how the local community endeavoured to get the father of illegitimate children to pay for their upkeep.
Quarter Sessions 1774-1780
Inhabitants of Duffield v. John Derbyshire
Upon proclamation for the discharge of John Derbyshire of Derby
in the Peak, in this county, slater, Jonathan Derbyshire, of the
same place, slater, and Jonathan Derbyshire the younger of Matlock
in the said county, slater, from a recognizance entered into then
for the said John Derbyshire's appearance at this sessions to
answer the charges of the inhabitants of Duffield touching his
begetting two male bastard children born on the body of Hannah
Byard and other witnesses upon oath in open court. This court
is of opinion and adjudge and declare the said John Derbyshire
to be the putative father of the said bastard children and doth
order that he do pay to the Church wardens and overseers of the
poor of the parish of Duffield aforesaid the sum of 20s for the
charge of the lying-in of the said Hannah Byard and 5s for the
midwife and also that he do also pay to the church wardens and
overseers of the poor of the Parish of Duffield aforesaid for
the time being the sum of 14d for each child weekly and every
week during so long as they shall respectively be chargeable to
the inhabitants of Duffield aforesaid, and doth further order
that the said Hannah Byard do pay to the said church wardens etc.
for the time being the sum of 7d for each child weekly and every
week during so long as she shall refuse of neglect to nurse either
of the said children and that the said John Derbyshire and also
the said Jonathan Derbyshire the elder and Jonathan Derbyshire
the younger his sureties and they are hereby discharged from their
recognizances and the said John Derbyshire enters into a new one
as follows, viz:
The said John Derbyshire acknowledges to owe to our sovereign
lord the King the sum of 40s.
The said John Derbyshire acknowledges to owe to our sovereign
lord the King the sum of 20s.
Joseph Derbyshire of Toadhole in Derby in the said County, slater
acknowledges to owe to our sovereign lord the King the sum of
20s.
To be levied on their several goods and chattels, lands and tenements
to the use of our said Lord the King, his heirs and successors.
On condition to be void if the said John Derbyshire shall only perform the order above written.
Wilmot for Duffield
Bakewell for Derbyshire.