In a message dated 30/03/2004 10:51:51 GMT Daylight Time, helen@wtoram.co.uk writes: You could also try ordering a film of Staindrop Parish chest material, and looking for a "Bastardy Bond" or examination. These do not always survive, but are worth looking for. The bad news is that in general, for most Co Durham parishes they do not survive. The good news is that one of the few parishes for which they do survive is ... Staindrop! However, the Staindrop bastardy orders etc do not seem to go much beyond the end of the old Poor Law in the mid-1830s. Geoff Nicholson 57 Manor Park, Concord, WASHINGTON, Tyne & Wear NE37 2BU Ask for details of NBL/DUR family history research in depth by THE local expert, working for YOU.