Bastardy bonds were intended to protect the county or parish from the expense of raising a bastard child. When a pregnancy or birth was brought to the court's attention, a warrant was issued, and the woman was brought into court and asked to declare the name of the father. The reputed father was then served a warrant and required to post bond. If the woman refused to declare the name of the father or post bond, she was often sent to jail.
The time period covered by this book is from the formation of a county to about 1878. The following North Carolina counties are included: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Bertie, Brunswick, Buncomb, Burke, Bute, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Craven, Cumberland, Granville, Moore, New Hanover, Rowan, Rutherford, Surry, and Wake. Entries are listed by county and provide the mother's full name, date, and the full-names of one, two, or three bondmen. Moore County entries list "Man" (full-name if available), "Woman" (full-name if available), "Child" (names are given for two entries), "Date," and "Page(s)." A full-name index (22,000 names) adds to the value of this work.
Betty Jo Camin and Edwin A. Camin
(1990), 2023, 8.5" x 11", paper, index, 258 pp.
ISBN: 9780788493966
101-NC0144
