Trustees of the Poor Bastardy Bonds

Bastardy bonds were filed in response to a law that required a bond be filed by the father of an illegitimate child, to ensure that the child did not become a burden on the county. The bond was posted by the father of an illegitimate child to ensure that the trustees would be reimbursed for any expenses incurred for the maintenance of the child. Code 1852 §§ 1475 & 1476

Entries made on the bastardy bonds show the names of the sureties, father, mother, and justice of the peace; date and amount of bond; sex and date of birth of child; conditions of the bond; signatures of sureties and witnesses; and hundred of residence of the mother. Occasionally the name of the child is given.

Below you can browse 1176 entries from Kent and Sussex Counties by father's, mother's, or child's name.