Caldwell County Bastard Recognizances (1815-1829)

One source of data often overlooked or ignored by genealogists is paternity cases involving children born out of wedlock. Several bundles of "Bastard Recognizances" (the historical legal term) are filed in the county clerk's office in Caldwell County, Kentucky.

When a child was born out of wedlock, the county court sought to establish paternity and secure financial support from the father to prevent the child from becoming a dependent of the county. These records often include the names of witnesses and bondsmen in the original papers.

Richard Sheridan located three bundles of these records in the Caldwell County Clerk's Office and abstracted the oldest bundle, dated 1815-1829, below.

• Mary Bridges swore that James Barnett, Jr. was the father of a female child born 27 Sept. 1814 at the house of Hugh Bannister.
• Matilda R. Duning swore that William Galloway was the father of her female child born 27 Sept. 1814.
• Polly Newman swore that Hiram T. Pinell, yeoman, was the father of her female child born 20 July 1815 at the house of Simpson Newman.
• Polly Bird swore that Milton Finley was the father of her female child born 7 Nov 1817 at the house of Thomas L. Hancock
• Abigail Johnson swore that James M. Hall was the father of her male child born 30 July 1819.
• Polly Guess swore that Robert Hooker was the father of her female child born 15 Oct. 1819 at the house of Joseph Guess.
• Priscilla Armstrong swore that Isaac Simpson, laborer, was the father of her female child born 28 Dec. 1820.
• Abigail Johnson swore that James M. Hall was the father of her female child born 29 Jan 1822 at the house of Benjamin Johnson.
• Polly Smart swore that John Bolton, laborer, was the father of her male child born 20 May 1822
• Nancy Morse swore that Allen Pearce, laborer, was the father of her male child born 12 March 1825 at the house of William Morse.
• Rebecca Moore swore that Robert Corlew was the father of her male child born 7 June 1825 at the house of John Moore
• Charity Lane swore that Thomas Anderson was the father of her male child born 30 July 1828 at the house of Lincy Campbell
• Teressa Stevens swore that William Roberts, laborer was the father of a male child born 15 May 1828 at the house of Alexander E. Lowery.