jam_filecontents.data - Castleton Historical Society

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Castleton & Its Old Inhabitants.
Chapter 5. Illegitimacy - Bastards
and Base Born Children.
In times gone by, bearing an illegitimate child
could mean disgrace and poverty following a
woman throughout her life. Similarly the child
could carry a stigma.
Our Parish Registers show many illegitimate
children were born here; the old Castleton
names come tumbling out – Barber, Hall,
Eades, Royse and Dakin to name but a few.
Castleton circa 1865. ©Castleton Historical Society.
Named at Baptism
Many different terms were used by our old vicars for
a child being born out of wedlock when they were
christened.
Castleton Register of baptisms, marriages &
burials 1662-1722. D1432 A/PI 1/1. Derbyshire
Record Office.
In the 1700s words such as “bastard”, “base-born”, “natural”, or just “illegitimate” were used;
“Peggy daughter of Ann Barber, a bastard child” baptised 6th August 1758. Register of
baptisms, marriages & burials 1722-1783. D1432 A/PI 1/2
“Joseph son of Mary Royse, a base born child” baptised 15th October 1764. Register of
baptisms, marriages & burials 1722-1783. D1432 A/PI 1/2 .
“John natural son of Elisabeth Howe” baptised 5th July 1772. Register of baptisms,
marriages & burials 1722-1783. D1432 A/PI 1/2
“Barbara daughter of Sarah Mortin (illegitimate)” and “Mary daughter of Margaret Dakin
(illegitimate)” baptised in 1792. Register of baptisms & burials 1783-1812. D1432 A/PI 1/3.
St Edmund’s Church circa 1870
- wherein hundreds of old
inhabitant’s baptisms have
taken place. ©Castleton
Historical Society.
Illegitimate, buried and poor.
Sadly, even when your child died her birth status could be noted as she was buried;
“Mary daughter of Hannah Eades (illegitimate).” Mary was buried in Castleton Churchyard on 10th
September 1797 – around 18 months old. Hannah herself had been illegitimate too – baptised 18th
October 1772 to mother Anne Eades.
If you were illegitimate and also poor this could be recorded, such as the baptism of “Mary daughter
of Elizabeth Heely (illegitimate of pauper)” in 1789. They may have been forced to live in the Poor
House, sometimes their only refuge in these circumstances. Poor Houses in Castleton around this
time stood off Back Street where the school and yard are today.
“Mary daughter of Elizabeth Heely (illegitimate of pauper)” baptised 15th February 1789.
Register of baptisms & burials 1783-1812. D1432 A/PI 1/3.
Mothers named and shamed.
In the 1800s the terms “spinster” and “single woman” would be applied to the mother at her child’s
Baptism.
Baptism of Jane, daughter of
Hannah Dakin “spinster” on
6th October 1826. Baptisms
Jan 1813-July 1864.
D1432A/PI 2/1.
Baptism of Hannah
Elizabeth, daughter of Ann
Dane “single woman” on
25th November 1866.
Current in-use Baptisms
Register.
Ann Dane of Castleton (above) was a 17 year old servant when she gave birth to her illegitimate
daughter, Hannah Elizabeth, in 1866. The child lived with Ann’s parents, Arnold Dane, a blacksmith,
and his wife Hannah at Cave (Dale) End.
Cave Dale End, Castleton.
Manchester Times 8th April 1892. Image
©The British Library Board, All Rights
Reserved.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/vie
wer/bl/0000504/18920408/030/0005
Filiation and Bastardy Papers – making the fathers pay.
Sometimes the name of the “supposed” father would be written in the parish register, using terms
like “putative” and “spurious”.
An early fragment from the Baptism Register; 1650 – Jacoby Bredbury, son “putat” (supposedly)
of Roger Bredbury. Register of baptisms, marriages & burials 1647-1650. D1432 A/PI 1/2
When the name of the
father was known he could
be made to pay for the
upkeep of the child, by a
Court if necessary, to
ensure he accepted his
responsibility.
Bastardy Papers would be
served by the Overseers of
the Poor, otherwise the
Parish would have to pay.
Derby Mercury 15th October 1795. Image ©The British Library Board. All rights
reserved.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000052/17951015/00
4/0001
Jane Bullock of Castleton had an illegitimate son, Isaac. He was baptised 14th October 1781.The
child’s father was John Hyde; he was served with Bastardy Papers in 1782. The couple married in
Castleton Church in 1783; Jane died five years later in 1788.
Baptism of Isaac son of Jane Bullock of Castleton “illegitimate”. Register of baptisms, marriages
& burials 1722-1783. D1432 A/PI 1/2.
If the father didn’t pay up he would be sent to prison. James Dakin of Castleton found himself likely
to spend three months in Derby Gaol in 1845 for “bastardy” if he didn’t settle up;
Derby Mercury 17th December 1845. Image ©The British Library Board. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000052/18451217/015/0003
Joseph Beverley of Castleton was made to pay two shillings a week for the maintenance of his
illegitimate child in 1864;
Glossop Record 28th May 1864. Image ©The British Library Board. All Rights Reserved.
Clarissa Hall took John Hibbert to Court to ensure support for her child – he had been promising to
marry her after she gave birth to his illegitimate child, Mary, in 1871. They finally married in 1872.
Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald 2nd September 1871. Image ©The British Library Board. All
Rights reserved. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000228/18710902/026/0008
Alice Amelia Barber
Alice Amelia was born in 1857 to twine spinner
Edward Barber, and his second wife, Mary. The
family lived at The Walk, Castleton.
This house has also been referred to as Primrose Hill,
but “Walk” refers to it once being a Rope Walk,
reflecting the family trade.
The Barber family at home at “The Walk”.
Hannah (left), Alice Amelia (right) and
Edwin circa 1900.
©Castleton Historical Society.
By 1881, twenty three year old Alice Amelia was still unmarried and working as a laundress. She had
also given birth to her first illegitimate child – Henry Barber, baptised in January 1881.
Henry Barber baptised in
Castleton Church 16th
January 1881 to Alice
Amelia Barber “single
woman”. Current in-use
Baptisms Register.
Henry Barber circa 1909.
Still unmarried, Alice Amelia
had a second illegitimate child,
Margaret Ann, born in 1885.
Margaret Ann Barber circa
1911.
Henry Barber married Sarah Partington; their daughter, Winnie
Barber, many of us may remember well. She was a tall elegant
lady known for her singing in the church choir.
Winnie records that her father, Henry,
was brought up by Mary Barber, and
that Alice Amelia Barber (Mary’s halfsister) was his “real” mother.
This was borne out by the Baptisms
Register.
Mary Barber (daughter of Edward
Barber and his first wife Barbara
Dakin) circa 1900 - she brought up
young Henry Barber.
The Schoolmaster and Hannah Hall
John Essex was our Schoolmaster from
January 1883; he resigned in January 1885.
During his time here he made the
acquaintance of Miss Hannah Hall. Hannah
bore an illegitimate child which was alleged
to be his.
The only record I can find of the baptism of a
child to “single woman Hannah Hall” is that of
Isaac Reynolds Hall; baptised in July 1885,
which fits John Essex in the time-frame.
Castleton School early 1900s. ©Castleton
Historical Society.
Alice Amelia Barber circa 1900. Alice
married Henry Shirt from Edale in
1886. ©Castleton Historical Society.
Baptism of Isaac Reynolds Hall, son of Hannah Hall “single woman” of Castleton, 19th July 1885.
Current in-use Baptisms Register.
At the Chapel-en-le-Frith Petty Sessions the following year he was called to show why he should not
contribute to the upkeep of the illegitimate child.
Neither Hannah Hall nor John Essex turned up at the hearing but Sergeant Gray of Castleton told the
Court the couple had settled the matter between themselves.
The child died in December 1888, aged 3.
The Reeve Family
John and Martha Reeve lived in Little Hucklow; however they appear in the 1851 Castleton
Census staying in the Market Place. They had connections with the Whittingham family,
rope makers of Castleton. The Reeves had two daughters, Hannah* and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth married Samuel How, boot and shoemaker
of Castleton, in St Edmund’s Church in 1875; Samuel at
57, being some twenty years older than Elizabeth.
They lived at Townhead in Castleton.
Elizabeth How nee Reeve, born in
1838. Image courtesy of Harry Lees.
Townhead, Castleton circa 1900. ©Castleton
Historical Society.
Elizabeth had already had an illegitimate daughter, Mary Reeve, born around 1858. The
family believed John Hadfield to be her father. Elizabeth died in 1884, aged 46, and is buried in
Castleton Churchyard.
Mary Reeve worked at the Cheshire Cheese Inn as a
domestic servant and barmaid when her uncle, George
Whittingham, was landlord in the 1870s/1880s.
Mary Reeve, Elizabeth’s illegitimate
child. Image courtesy of Harry Lees.
The Cheshire Cheese Inn circa 1900.
© Castleton Historical Society.
She too went on to have an illegitimate child of her own, Alice Ann Reeve, who was baptised
here in Castleton Church in 1881. Mary would never say who the father of Alice was.
Baptism of Alice Ann Reeve in Castleton Church 17th November
1881. Her mother was Mary Reeve “single woman”. Current inuse baptisms register.
Alice Ann Reeve baptised in St Edmund’s Church 1881,
seen here circa 1900. Image courtesy of Harry Lees.
Both Mary and her daughter Alice went on to have successful marriages and families. Alice’s
grandson, Mr Harry Lees, has kindly allowed us to share their photographs and story.
*Hannah Reeve married George Whittingham in 1861; they were the grandparents of
Castleton’s well-known Dolly Medwell of Russett Well who died in 2003 aged 101 – more on
this family another time.
In conclusion, it seems that if a woman bearing an illegitimate child had the support of her
family, the child’s father, or even a husband, then all could be well; unlike the sad story of
Alice Brocklehurst in 1832.
Alice worked as a servant
at the Nag’s Head Inn finding herself pregnant
and rejected by lead miner
Robert Eyre, she took her
own life instead of facing
an uncertain future and
disgrace.
Today, of course, it simply
wouldn’t matter.
Derby Mercury 25th January 1832. Image ©The British Library
Board. All Rights Reserved.
The Nag’s Head Inn late 1800s. Alice worked here as a
servant. She was buried in Castleton Churchyard, behind
the old Inn, in January 1832. ©Castleton Historical
Society.
Bibliography
Castleton Register of baptisms, marriages (to 1773) & burials 1647-1650, 1722-1783. D1432 A/PI 1/2 .
Register of baptisms & burials 1783-1812. D1432 A/PI 1/3. Derbyshire Record Office.
Poor Houses reference; Plan and Survey of Castleton 1819 B. Staley D911 Z/PI 1-2. Derbyshire Record Office.
Castleton Baptisms Jan 1813-July 1864. D1432A/PI 2/1. Derbyshire Record Office.
Castleton Baptisms September 1864 onwards. Current in-use Baptisms Register.
1871 Census Castleton; Class: RG10; Piece: 3636; Folio: 31; Page: 6; GSU roll: 841851. Ancestry.com. 1871
England Census [database on-line].
Manchester Times 8th April 1892. The British Newspaper Archive.
Derby Mercury 15th October 1795. The British Newspaper Archive.
Yesterday’s Journey (Bastardy Papers ref Q2/45)
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~spire/Yesterday/
Castleton Marriages May 1754-July 1805 D1432 A/PI 3/1. Derbyshire Record Office.
Derby Mercury 17th December 1845. The British Newspaper Archive.
Glossop Record 28th May 1864. The British Newspaper Archive.
Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald 2nd September 1871. The British Newspaper Archive.
Castleton Marriages July 1837-Sept 1958 D1432 A/PI 3/4. Derbyshire Record Office.
Marriage of Alice Amelia Barber and Henry Shirt 1886. England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 18371915. Ancestry.com.
CHS newspaper file; unknown title dated May 1886.
School Log Book 1; page 102 appointment of John Essex, page 139 resignation.
Castleton Burials March 30th 1887 onwards. Current in-use Burials Register.
1851 Census Castleton; Class: HO107; Piece: 2151; Folio: 342; Page: 13; GSU roll: 87784.Ancestry.com. 1851
Castleton Marriages July 1837 – Sep 1958. D1432 A/PI 3/4. Derbyshire Record Office.
Castleton Burials Jan 1813 – March 1887. D1432 A/PI 5/1. Derbyshire Record Office.
th
Derby Mercury 25 January 1832. The British Newspaper Archive.
Acknowledgements.
My thanks to Derbyshire Record Office, Reverends Ian Davis and Josephine Barnes for their kind permission
to reproduce images and information from Castleton Parish Registers. Also to Castleton Historical Society
Trustees for permission to reproduce our photographs. Thanks to Karen Green for help with Latin, and to
Nancy Lees, Head of Castleton School, for access to the School Log Books. My thanks also to Mr Harry Lees
(descendant of the Reeve family) for his kind permission to reproduce his family photographs and share
information about his family, and also to Audrey Middleton regarding the Castleton Barber family.
Information from Census and marriages outside Castleton from Ancestry; http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ and
Bastardy Papers from Yesterday’s Journey http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~spire/Yesterday/
Newspaper images reproduced with the kind permission of the British Newspaper Archive
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ Also thanks to Val and Ian Burgess for assistance with editing
this article for Castleton Historical Society’s website.
Kay Harrison, July 2015.

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