1774 Legal Document. Begatt Me A Bastard Child - Feb 14, 2015 | Early American History Auctions In Ca
LiveAuctioneers Logo

lots of lots

1774 Legal Document. Begatt me a Bastard Child

Recommended Items

item-34048251=1
item-34048251=2
item-34048251=3
1774 Legal Document. Begatt me a Bastard Child
1774 Legal Document. Begatt me a Bastard Child
Item Details
Description
Colonial America
“... Begatt me with Child, of a Bastard Child which I am now Pregnant...I Pray that you would give out a Warrent”
March 3, 1774-Dated Pre Revolutionary War Period, Manuscript Legal Court Document, Official Complaint and Testimony regarding the Father of an expected Bastard Child, Choice Very Fine.
This wonderful content, historic 7.5” x 9.25" Colonial American Manuscript was written in 1774 as true copy of a legal examination, as there were no Xerox machines or carbon paper for duplicate copies in the day. It is very well written upon handmade laid period paper which has the paper makers watermark, and is in excellent condition. This official court copy concerns, in part:

“The Book of The Courts of Welthy Pratts Complaint and Examination. Bristol: To Ephraim Leonard Esq one of His Majestys Justices of The Peace A Complaint of me The Subscriber Welthy Pratt of The District of Mansfield in The County of Bristol a Single Woman in His Majestys behalf Against Job Brintnell of said Mansfield A Minor (Son of Nathaniel Brintnell Late of Mansfield Deceased) for That The said Job brintnell at said Mansfield sometime in The Forepart of November last according to the best of my Rememberance Begatt me with Child of a Bastard Child which I am now Pregnant with and I Pray that you would give out a Warrent against The said Job Brintnell so That He May be Dealt With as The Law in this Case Directs Signed Wealthy Pratt Mansfield March The 2nd 1774. --- A True Copy of The Complaint Attest - Ephm Leonard Justice of The Peace. Bristol Memorandum

That at Mansfield on The 3rd Day of March 1774 The above Named Wealthy Pratt appeared and was Examined upon Oath concerning Her being with Child of a Bastard Child The above named Job Brintnell being Present.Question The First Are you with Child of Bastard Child Answer -- YES.

Question The second who Begatt you with Child of The Bastard Child that you are now Pregnant with Answer -- Job Brintnell.

Question The Third When was you Begatt with Child Answer -- Sometime in The forepart of The Month of November last according to The Best of my Rememberance.

Sworne and Examined by me Ephm Leonard, Justice of The Peace.”

This intense legal examination by the court and lodging of a complaint was officially the first step that one had to take in order to receive some Welfare from the town, giving the town a way to make the alleged father, Job Brintnell, responsible to make payment instead of the town towards the welfare of the mother and expected bastard baby.
Colonial Massachusetts, Personal Conduct Regulation... Puritan church members in the Massachusetts Bay colony, and later, Congregationalists elsewhere in New England, believed that their contractual relationship with God required them to enforce proper behavior in their communities. This perceived requirement resulted in the enactment of a variety of laws designed to regulate the conduct of all members of society.

In its strictest sense, “blue law”* refers to an edict designed to regulate public activities on the Sabbath, which meant Sunday to the Congregationalists of that day. In common parlance, the term blue law was expanded to include several different areas of behavior:

Sabbath Regulations. The first laws regulating public activities on Sundays were passed in colonial Virginia in the 1620s. Similar laws intended to keep the Sabbath holy were soon adopted elsewhere in America. Typically, all forms of trade or commerce were outlawed. No public entertainment or meetings were permitted, except of course for church services, which often included two-hour services in the morning and the afternoon. Travel on Sunday was banned, except for emergencies. Violators were subject to fines imposed by civil authorities.

Family Relationships. Efforts were made in many communities to provide social stability through legislation. Husbands and wives were required to live together to keep families intact. Parents risked losing their children if it were found that they were being poorly educated. The Puritans placed a heavy emphasis on the ability to read and understand the Bible, so great effort was expended to educate the community.

Sumptuary Laws. Many New England towns passed laws intended to prevent excesses in the areas of clothing and food consumption. Motivations in these instances were somewhat mixed. Part of the explanation can be found in the desire to prevent excessive human behavior. However, there was also an element of trying to keep people in their proper social stations. Fines were imposed on people on the lower rungs of society who dressed in silk or wore silver buckles on their shoes — perfectly acceptable practices for the upper classes.

Public Behavior. Community members found guilty of drunkenness, idleness or gossiping were made the targets of public ridicule during their confinement in the stocks or pillory. No celebrations of Christmas, other holidays or church weddings were permitted since those events were not sanctioned in the Bible. Public displays of affection between the sexes, even between husband and wife, were prohibited.

By the time of the American Revolution, many of the personal conduct laws were no longer enforced. Some, however, have remained on the books to the present day.
Buyer's Premium
  • 23%

1774 Legal Document. Begatt me a Bastard Child

Estimate $600 - $800
See Sold Price
Starting Price $450
1 bidder is watching this item.

Shipping & Pickup Options
Item located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA, us
See Policy for Shipping

Payment

Early American History Auctions

Early American History Auctions

Rancho Santa Fe, CA, United States1,253 Followers
TOP