This was posted to the DUGGER List and thought you might find it interesting. Chuck Demastus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bastardy Bonds When the pregnancy of an unmarried woman or the birth of a child to an unmarried woman was brought to the attention of the court, a warrant was issued and the woman was brought into court. She was questioned under oath and asked to give the name of the father of the child. The person she declared to be the father was served a warrant and required to post a bond. If the woman refused to name the father, then she, her father or some other person was required to post the bond. In some cases the mother and the father posted the bond together. If the woman refused to name the father or post the bond she could be punished a jail sentence. The main purpose of these bonds were to insure that the child would be taken care of and not become a burden to the county. I don't think these rules were strictly enforced. There were many more children born out of wedlock than are accounted for by Bastardy Bonds. Family status and influence probably kept a lot of names out of court.