Filiation Order: Henry Norris

ORDER OF FILIATION:

County of LANCASTER, (to wit)

The Order of William Hill, Esquire and John Whalley Master, Bachelor in Divinity two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County, (One whereof being of the Quorum) and both residing next unto the Limits of the Parish Church, within the Parish of Croston in the said County, made the Twelfth Day of July in the Fiftieth Year of the Reign of His said Majesty King George the Third, concerning a male Bastard Child, lately born in the Township of Croston aforesaid, of the Body of Nanny Norris, Singlewoman.

Whereas it hath appeared unto us the Justices, as well upon the Complaint of the Church-wardens and Overseers of the said Township of Croston as upon the Oath of the said Nanny Norris that she the said Nanny Norris was delivered of a male Bastard Child, at Croston aforesaid, and that the said Bastard Child is likely to become chargeable to the said Township of Croston and further, that John Cotham of Croston aforesaid, Husbandman did beget the said Bastard Child on the Body of her the said Nanny Norris.

And, whereas, he the said John Cotham hath not appeared before us although Duly summoned nor hath shewn any cause to the contrary why he shall not be adjudged the father of the said Bastard Child.

WE therefore, upon Examination of the Cause and Circumstances of the Premises, as well upon the Oath of the said Nanny Norris as otherwise, do hereby adjudge him the said John Cotham to be the reputed Father of the Bastard Child. And whereupon we do order, as well for the better Relief of the said Township of Croston as for the Sustentation and Relief of the said Bastard Child, that the said John Cotham shall and do forthwith, upon Notice of this our Order, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Township of Croston or some one of them, the sum of Three pounds sixteen shillings and six pence for and towards the lying-in of the said Nanny Norris and the Maintenance of the said Bastard Child, to the Time of making this our Order. And we also hereby further Order, that the said John Cotham shall likewise pay, or cause to be paid, to the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Township of Croston for the Time being, or to some or one of them, the Sum of Two Shillings weekly and every Week from the present Time, for and towards the Keeping, Sustentation, and Maintenance of the said Bastard Child, for and during so long Time as the said Bastard Child shall be chargeable to the said Township of Croston. And we do further order, that the said Nanny Norris shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Township of Croston for the Time being, or to some or one of them, the Sum of Two Shillings weekly and every week, so long as the said Bastard Child shall be chargeable to the said Township of Croston in case she shall not nurse and take care of the said Bastard Child herself.

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

[signed]

Call John Worthington, Overseer of Croston, Wm Hill, John Whalley Master

NOTES:
1:	The parts of the above text in italics are written in by hand on a pre-printed document.
2:	John Cottam's surname was mis-spelled throughout the document.
3:	The above information is taken from the original document held at the Lancashire Record Office.