Asking for confirmation please

[LinnetLegs]

In the quality, trade or profession box, does that say 'Simple Woman'?

Thanks Paul

 

[Daft Bat]

I read it as Single Woman...

 

[LinnetLegs]

I read it as Single Woman...

Thank you. I now see it. <blush>

 

[Daft Bat]

Thank you. I now see it. <blush>

No need to blush - I think I prefer simple woman...

 

[LinnetLegs]

No need to blush - I think I prefer simple woman...

there was no judgement of the child being born out of wedlock which was nice for the time I suppose too

 

[Genie1]

Single woman.

 

[Barley]

Recording a child as "baseborn", "illegitimate" and so on wasn't moral judgement, it was a legal and financial requirement. Legitimate children took their father's place of settlement (i.e. which parish was financially responsible for them under the Poor Laws) while children of unmarried women became the responsibility of the parish they were born/baptised in. The distinction had to be made clear at the time of baptism in case there were later queries (or even lawsuits) about who had to pay to support someone claiming poor relief. You can see that this entry is quite precise on that point - the mother is recorded as "single".

 

[LinnetLegs]

Recording a child as "baseborn", "illegitimate" and so on wasn't moral judgement, it was a legal and financial requirement. Legitimate children took their father's place of settlement (i.e. which parish was financially responsible for them under the Poor Laws) while children of unmarried women became the responsibility of the parish they were born/baptised in. The distinction had to be made clear at the time of baptism in case there were later queries (or even lawsuits) about who had to pay to support someone claiming poor relief. You can see that this entry is quite precise on that point - the mother is recorded as "single".

Thank you for the clarification. I always assumed it was the morals of the time. I live and learn.