Elizabeth CROMPTON was christened on 26 May 1811 at Beeford church.

Above: A composite image of Elizabeth Crompton's baptism on 26 May1811, which also records her birth on 13 May 1811

In 1837 Nafferton Parish Register records Elizabeth CROMPTON, a Spinster, has illegitimate daughter, with the dialect pronunciation of Paulina:

Thomas LUCKUP, living without his parents, is recorded as a man of independent means on the farm of George FORGE, also in North Street.

Paulina's father is recognised, by the Court, as Thomas Luckup of Nafferton.

1841 Census Sun/Mon  6/7 June 1841
Source:              FHL Film PRO Ref HO107   
                     Piece 1215 Book 5 Folio 5 Page 7b 
Dwelling:            North Street
Place:               Nafferton, York
  
Name                 Age Sex Occupation  Born in County
George Forge          50  M  Farmer             Y
Mary Forge            45  F                     Y
Eliza Forge           20  F                     Y
May Forge             10  F                     Y
Thomas Luckup         45  M  Ind.               Y
Thomas Lovel          15  M  A.L.               Y
Robert Binnington     12  M  A.L.               Y
Hannah Water (?)      15  F  A.L.               Y

Note: Ages are usually rounded to the nearest five years.

1811info1, sheet 2

BASTARDY RECOGNIZANCE'S AND ORDERS

It appears that the Paulina Crompton's "Bastardy Bond" falls between two systems. The document appears to be a post 1834 court order of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the County of York whilst the claimants are the pre 1834 Parish, in this case Nafferton, in association with the Driffield Union Workhouse. This was probably because, though the Driffield Poor Law Union as formed on 12 October 1836 the Driffield Guardians made use of the existing parish workhouses at Nafferton and Kilham, together with house located between Westgate and Middle Street in Driffield. Finally, a new building for 215 inmates was erected, between 1866-8, at the north side of the Bridlington Road in Driffield.

It is possible that this accounts for the continued interest of the Nafferton Parish Guardians and that Paulina may still be registered as an inmate of the Nafferton Workhouse in the 1841 census.

There is no obvious reason why Thomas and Elizabeth were not married. Despite being thirteen years her senior and living in North Street, perhaps next door or close by, there is no evidence of Thomas being married. In the 1841 census he is described as a man of independent means living on the farm of George Forge. He is, at this time neither a farmer nor agricultural labourer. Nor is he living with his parents. The issuing of a Bastardy Bond shows that clearly Thomas Luckup denied being the father of Paulina.

In practice Thomas would have been sent to the Beverley Quarter Sessions for a first hearing, before the birth of the child. The entry in the indictments should show something similar to ' the Parish of Nafferton against Thomas Luckup on account of bastardy with Elizabeth Crompton' . Unless two relatives or friends agreed to produce bail for him at court he would have been committed to prison to await the birth of the child. When the child was born the Thomas Luckup would have return to court and to the indictment would be added the birth date and sex of Elizabeth's child, but not the name.

The General Quarter Sessions found Thomas Luckup to be "really and in truth the father of the said Child" based on the statement of the Union Overseer and perhaps the local village knowledge.

Despite the Court classifying Thomas as a 'Gentleman' he didn't appear to have the disposable capital to make a once-for-all payment of £40 nor the sum of about £2 to contribute to the cost of laying-in. If his contribution of two shillings a week is a guide then he was a minor gentleman even at eighteenth century rates, when the expected support for a gentleman was 2s 6d a week. Given that the printed Bastardy Bond states that payments were to be made until the child achieved the age of seven years, rather than until the age of 14, Thomas Luckup appears to have been treated lightly.

Although born in January 1837 Paulina didn't become a charge on the Union until March 1837. The reason for Thomas not becoming liable until three months after the birth is unknown. Elizabeth, in the issuing of the Bond, was recorded as being a 'spinster' at Paulina's registration in the Parish Register.

It is possible that Elizabeth's mother evoked something like the modern Child Support Agency, through the Guardians of the Parish of Nafferton and the Driffield Union Workhouse, to which Nafferton Parish was a partner. Prior to the formation of the Union Elizabeth and Paulina would have been supported by the parish chest. After 1834 the responsibility for upkeep of Paulina (and possibly Elizabeth) fell on the Driffield Union. Most single mothers were taken into the workhouse, unless their families were able and willing to support them at home.

This questions the financial position of Thomas Richardson, a farmer in the 1841 census, and Martha's family. Together they had thirteen children. Thomas Richardson was, at the time of Paulina's birth, aged 67 and Martha 53. By the 1841 census Paulina was living with Thomas Richardson and Martha in their North Street home. Modern North Street would not be synonymous with poverty.

Source

• McLaughlin, Eve, 'Tracing the paternity of illegitimate ancestors', Ancestors Issue 20, The National Archives, London, April 2004
• The Workhouse

Further Reading

• Gibson Jeremy, 'Guide to the Poor Law Union Records', four booklets, FFHS in association with Jeremy Gibson Laslett Peter, 'Bastardy and Its Comparative History', Harvard, 1980
• Chadwick Anthony, 'Bridlington and Driffield Workhouses', Ripon Museum Trust leaflet, 1996
• Fallowfield Margaret and Watson Ian, 'The New Poor Law in Humberside', Local History Archives Unit, Humberside College of Higher Education, 1985

1811info1, sheet 3

Court of General Quarter sessions of the peace holden in and for the East-Riding of the county of York, at Beverly, in the said Riding, on   Monday , the   third     Day of April   in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty seven Whereas the Overseers of the Poor of the parish of  Nafferton, (with the concurrence of the Guardians of the Union in which such Parish is comprised) in the said Riding, having given due notice to Thomas Luckup of Nafferton ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ in the said Riding, Gentleman of their intention to apply to the Court here, at these sessions, for an Order upon him the said Thomas Luckup    as the putative father of a certain   female Bastard child, of which one   Elizabeth Crompton      was then lately delivered, and which had then lately become chargeable to the said   parish to reimburse the said    parish      for the maintenance and support of the said child; and the said application now coming on now to be heard before the Court here, according to the said Notice, and the said   Thomas Luckup   being at the same time called and not appearing, either himself or his attorney, according to such Notice, and the said Overseers now produce to the Court here an agreement, in writing, under the hand of the said   Thomas Luckup   to abide by such Order as the Court shall make thereon, without the hearing of evidence by the Court here in that behalf; The Court here having heard the said Agreement read, and having heard the said overseers, are satisfied that the said    Thomas Luckup   is really and in truth the father of the said child; and it appearing to the Court to be just and reasonable in all circumstance of the case that the said   Thomas Luckup   should pay unto the said Overseers of the Poor of the said   parish of    Nafferton for the time being, such sum or sums of money as they have expended, and may from time to time hereafter expend, for the maintenance and support of the Bastard Child, not to exceed the sum of   two shillings and       pence per week: The Court here therefore do now order that the said   Thomas Luckup   do pay the Overseers aforesaid the sum of  ; five shillings by them expended for the maintenance and support of the said Child, from the first eighth day of January March last, when the said Child became chargeable, to the present day and do also pay to the Overseers of the Poor of the said parish of Nafferton for the time being, weekly and every week from henceforth until the said Child shall attain the age of Seven Years, ( if the said Child so long live and continue to be chargeable to the said   parish ) such sum and sums of money as shall be weekly expended by on behalf of the said   parish   for the maintenance and support of the said Child during the time last aforesaid, not exceeding the sum of    two shillings and        pence in each and every week. By the Court, Deputy Clerk of the Peace of the said Riding.

1811info1 sheet 4

FILE - Orders - ref. QSU/1/38 [n.d.]
item: [no title] - ref. QSU/1/38/34 - date: 1837
Scope and Content [extract] ... Mother: CROMPTON Elizabeth

Reference: QSU/1/38/34
Creation dates: 1837

Scope and Content
Session: 1837 Easter
Father: LUCKUP Thomas
Father's residence: Nafferton
Father's job: Gentleman
Surety: [no details given]
Surety's residence: [no details given]
Surety's job: [no details given]
Mother: CROMPTON Elizabeth
Mother's residence: Nafferton

Source:

• QSU/1/38/34 is copyright of East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Records Service Source: East Riding Archives (Accessed: 11 May 2018)

Elizabeth Crompton was married in Beverley, in the third quarter of 1839, (Ref GRO Marriage 3rd quarter of 1839 Beverly 23,7) to Richard Hornsey and left her illegitimate daughter with her parents.

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version C7 Updated 15 October 2024