Dorset to wit. - THE Order of Frncis John Browne Esquire & John Munden LLD
two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace forthe said County of Dorset, and both
residing next unto the Limits of the Parish Church of Stoke Abbas in the
said County of Dorset, made the 4th Day of May concerning
a female Bastard Child lately born in the said Parish of Stoke Abbas
in the said County of Dorset, of the Body of Mary Pearce
Whereas it hath appeared unto us the said Justices, as well upon the Complaint of the Church-
wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Stoke Abbas aforesaid
as upon the Oath of the said Mary Pearce that the said Mary
Pearce on the thirteenth Day of April last past, was deli-
vered of a female Bastard Child witin the said Parish of Stoke Abbas
in the said County of Dorset, and that the said female Bastard Child is lbecome
chargeable to the said Parish of Stoke Abbas and likely to continue.
And that John Hann of Stoke Abbas aforesaid Weaver
did beget, and is the Father of the said Bastard Child
And whereas it hath been duly proved before us on Oath, That the said John Hann
hath been duly summoned to appear before us the Day, to the End that we
might examine into the Cause and Circumstances of the Premises, and hath appeared accordingly
but hath assigned no sufficient Reason why he should not be deemed the Father of the said female
Bastard Child
WE therefore, upon Examination and Consideration of the Cause and Circumstances of
the Premises, as well upon the Oath of the said Mary Pearce as otherwise do
hereby adjudge the said John Hann 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 Stoke Abbas
as for the Sustenance and Relief of the said Bastard Child, that the said John
Hann shall and do immediately 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 Stoke
Abbas or to some or one of them, the Sum of One Pound
for and towards the lying in of the said Mary
Pearce and the Maintenance of the said
Bastard Child, to the time of making this Order
AND we do hereby also further order the said John Hann
likewise pay, or cause to be paid to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish
of Stoke Abbas for the time being, or to some or one of them, the Sum of One
Shilling & Eight Pence weekly, and every Week, from the Date of this
our Order, as well as for the Relief of the said Parish of Stoke Abbas
as also for and towards the Keeping Sustenance and maintaining the said Bastard Child, for and du-
ring so long time as the said Bastard Child shal live and be chargeable to the said Parish of Stoke Abbas
AND we do further order, that the said Mary Pearce shall also pay,
or cause to be paid unto the said Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of
Stoke Abbas the Sum of Ten Pence
Weekly, and every Week for so long as the said Bastard Child shall live, and be chargeable to the said
Parish of Stoke Abbas except such time as the said Mary Pearce
shall keep, nourish and maintain the said Bastard Child with the
allowance aforesaid from the siad John Hann
Given under our Hands and Seals the fourth Day of May
in the Year of our Lord 1807
F J Browne
J Munden