"NORTH CAROLINA RESEARCH"
GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY
second edition
Helen F. M. Leary, C.G., F.A.S.G. editor
Contributed by: Walt Gabennesch
APPENDIX A ----SELECTED TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
BASTARD. A person whose parents were not married to each other at the time of
his or her birth. Such a person was known by the mother's surname and was
prohibited from inheriting any part of the father's intestate estate unless
previously LEGITIMATED.
BASTARDY BOND. A BOND posted by the reputed father (or, rarely, the mother or
member of her family) of a bastard to ensure that the child would be supported
without public expense.
Page 246- Matters of bastardy normally include the mother's sworn statement of
paternity (generally mentioned but not transcribed) and an order for the reputed
father to support the child to some extent. The child's name and gender are
rarely given, although its age or time of birth may be. Bastards took the
mother's surname--a child referred to as John Smith of Mary, was almost
certainly illegitimate.
~~~~~~~~~
"NORTH CAROLINA BASTARDY BONDS"
1990- By: Betty J. Camin, Edwin Camin
"The "Bastardy Bonds" of North Carolina are just as the title states - bonds
posted because of the birth or impending birth of a bastard child. These bonds
were intended to protect the county or parish from the expense of raising the
child. It is asked that in reading this material, the reader do so with love and
understanding of the problems of these men and women."
"This collection was started several years ago when the author was a resident of
Raleigh where the extant bonds are located. These records came from either the
actual bonds or bond books. For a more complete listing of the Bastardy Bonds
of a particuar county, it is suggested you read the county court minutes. Those
bonds that have survived are only a very small percentage of the number recorded
in the County Court and County Superior Court."
Bertie Co. North Carolina
Mother Date Bondsman
Mary Brassell Apr. 1791 John Wimberly
note- There are 22,000 names listed in this book on 118 pages. The names include
the mother and the bondsmen. Only 30 counties are listed and the time period is
from when the county was formed up to 1878. The list in each county is far from
complete because the court minutes were not researched. By 1800 there were 63
counties in North Carolina.
THE LEGAL SURNAME OF A BASTARD CHILD WAS THAT OF HIS OR HER MOTHER!!
BASTARDY BONDS OF JOHNSTON COUNTY, NC (1850-1895)
Abstracted by Ray King in 1194. NCSA C.R. #56.102.1
26 Nov 1867 - Sarah Daughtry - Lewis Braswell
27 Mar 1876 - Georgianna ? - Sandy Braswell
4 Oct 1893 - Annie Smith - Braswell Thomas