The examination quoted below is from the Berkshire Overseers Project, vol.9, Wallingford Union. My query is: why was Frances being examined? "23 4. 1] 23 July 1769 Examination of 2] Frances BATTEN [x] of Brightwell before 6] J. Warner [+]. She is about 20 years of age and born at Brightwell. Lived with her father for about 8 years and then family moved to Dorchester, Oxon and lived there some years. She maintained herself there and at Brightwell by her own labour. Sometime before Christmas last past she moved to London in service for one month (and after that cohabited) [these 4 words crossed out] with Levy BANNISTER and received a months wages from him and after that cohabited with him until sometime after last Easter, when she returned to Brightwell." [End] The document is from "a mixed bundle of 8 documents relating to bastardy" so can I assume that Frances was pregnant and seeking financial assistance? I haven't found a matching baptism in Dorchester or Brightwell but I think (hope) the child was named Thomas and would have been born in 1769. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Pamela Sydney, Australia