Post by donne on Apr 9, 2009 6:47:33 GMT -5
I've found the so-called 'bastardy bonds' a useful source for confirming aspects of family and social history and my attention was caught by the series in the archives relating to St Erth parish.
I was specially interested in Joseph BLIGHT and Ann WARD (CRO PCERT/5/377, 4 Oct 1780) since one of my direct ancestors, James DONNE, was involved as one of the sureties to the bond, and surprised by the size of the financial burden of £100 which would have been an enormous sum in those days. James DONNE, tinner of Crowan, was a cousin of Joseph BLIGHT; the other surety was William BLIGHT (Joseph had a brother William), tinner of Marazion, in addition to the father himself.
The outcome of this union was a daughter, Ann WARD/BLIGHT, whose baptism is recorded in St Erth registers on 21 Jan 1781. I would like to know what became of her and her mother - I suspect that the daughter may be the Ann BLIGHT recorded as the 70 year old unmarried 'visitor' with John and Mary BETTENS in the 1851 census at 'Kerton' Wood.
Joseph, however, appears to have been quite incorrigible. A further bond, dated 15 Jul 1782, seems to relate to him (CRO PCERT/5/379) and Grace THOMAS, this time involving sureties Jos. BLIGHT husbandman (father), Samuel BLIGHT snr. tinner and William FREEMAN of St Ives carpenter. The offspring of Joseph and Grace was in this case a son John, bap 23 Mar 1783 at St Erth. Another of Joseph's brothers was a Samuel, who could be the person named, but I don't know of any connection to William FREEMAN.
Eventually Joseph BLIGHT seems to have settled down and married Elizabeth POTTER on 30 Oct 1783 at St Erth, and the IGI seems to indicate that they had 7 children baptised in St Erth (possibly another at St Hilary) - perhaps with the addition of other members of Joseph's extended family.
I would be interested in any further information on the personalities involved.
I was specially interested in Joseph BLIGHT and Ann WARD (CRO PCERT/5/377, 4 Oct 1780) since one of my direct ancestors, James DONNE, was involved as one of the sureties to the bond, and surprised by the size of the financial burden of £100 which would have been an enormous sum in those days. James DONNE, tinner of Crowan, was a cousin of Joseph BLIGHT; the other surety was William BLIGHT (Joseph had a brother William), tinner of Marazion, in addition to the father himself.
The outcome of this union was a daughter, Ann WARD/BLIGHT, whose baptism is recorded in St Erth registers on 21 Jan 1781. I would like to know what became of her and her mother - I suspect that the daughter may be the Ann BLIGHT recorded as the 70 year old unmarried 'visitor' with John and Mary BETTENS in the 1851 census at 'Kerton' Wood.
Joseph, however, appears to have been quite incorrigible. A further bond, dated 15 Jul 1782, seems to relate to him (CRO PCERT/5/379) and Grace THOMAS, this time involving sureties Jos. BLIGHT husbandman (father), Samuel BLIGHT snr. tinner and William FREEMAN of St Ives carpenter. The offspring of Joseph and Grace was in this case a son John, bap 23 Mar 1783 at St Erth. Another of Joseph's brothers was a Samuel, who could be the person named, but I don't know of any connection to William FREEMAN.
Eventually Joseph BLIGHT seems to have settled down and married Elizabeth POTTER on 30 Oct 1783 at St Erth, and the IGI seems to indicate that they had 7 children baptised in St Erth (possibly another at St Hilary) - perhaps with the addition of other members of Joseph's extended family.
I would be interested in any further information on the personalities involved.
