Matthias Weston

Filiation Order
against Matthias Weston
21st April 1803

Northamptonshire to wit.

The Order of the Reverend Euseby Isham, Clerk, and the Reverend Henry Bagshaw Harrison, Clerk, two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County, one whereof is of the Quorum, and both residing in or near to the Limits of the Parish Church, within the Parish of Desborough in the said County, made the twenty first Day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and three concerning a female Bastard Child lately born in the Parish aforesaid, of the Body of Ann now the Wife of Samuel Morris of the Parish of Desborough aforesaid Laborer late Ann Loak Singlewoman.

WHEREAS it has been duly made appear unto us, the said Justices, as well upon the Complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Desborough as upon the Oath of the said Ann Morris that she was delivered of a female Bastard Child, at Desborough in the said Parish, on the eighth Day of January last past and that the said Bastard Child is now chargeable to the said Parish, and likely so to continue; and further that Matthias Weston of  Napcoat in the County of Leicester Servant did beget the said Bastard Child on the Body of her the said Ann Morris.

And whereas the said Matthias Weston hath not shown any sufficient Cause why he shall not be the reputed Father of the said Bastard child

We therefore, upon Examination of the cause and circumstance of the Premises as well upon the Oath of the said Ann Morris as otherwise, do hereby adjudge him, the said Matthias Weston to be the reputed Father of the said Bastard Child.

And thereupon we do order, as well for the better Relief of the said Parish of Desborough as for the Sustentation and Relief of the said Bastard Child, that the said Matthias Weston shall and do forthwith, upon Notice of this our Order, pay, or cause to be paid, to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Desborough or to some one of them, the Sum of

for and towards the Lying-in of the said Ann Morris and the Maintenance of the said Bastard Child to the Time of making this our Order.

And we do also hereby further order, that the said Matthias Weston shall likewise pay, or cause to be paid, to the churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Desborough for the Time being, or to some or one of them, the Sum of one shilling & six pence Weekly, and every Week, from this present Time, for and towards the Keeping Sustentation 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 Desborough And we do further order that the said Ann Morris shall also pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Desborough for the Time being, or to some or one of them, the Sum of nine pence Weekly, and every Week, so long as the said Bastard Child shall be chargeable to the same, in case she shall not nurse or take Care of the said Child herself.

Given under our Hands and Seals, the Day and Year first above written.

Eus Isham
H B Harrison

 

Notes:

Ann's daughter Mary was baptised 6th March 1803, 14 days after Ann married Samuel Morris. Mary died in April the following year.

 

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