Presentments for Fornication - 1800-1851

Presentments were accusations of offences against Ecclesiastical law made by the wardens or chapter quest of each parish to the twice-yearly church courts held around Easter and November. Family historians will be familiar with them as a common crime presented, was that of fornication, as proved by the appearance of an illegitimate child, both mother and putative father, where known, were presented. Fornication was illicit sexual relationship by an unmarried party, adultery was an illicit relationship by a married party.

The Manx Museum has the collection of such documents, formerly housed in the Diocesan Archive; some years in mid 18th Century have been microfilmed and recently indexed but the late 18th century and 19th century documents are as yet unfilmed and unindexed. By the late 18th century the respect given to the Ecclesiastical court was diminishing quite quickly, especially in Douglas - this can be seen in both the increasing number of presented parties who absented themselves from the court and the absence of returns from several parishes and/or lack of follow up as the 19th Century progressed.

I have extracted the entries for fornication from the returns - in earlier years many cases would include a summary of the court's judgement but in later years, though a blank space was left on the return, no such judgement was given. The name of the man on whom the child was affiliated (by the mother and/or midwife whose duty it was to find out) was usually added to the form in a different and often very untidy hand, the percentage of such affiliations decreasing as the 19th century progressed. If the man did not oppose the affiliation he became liable for contributing towards the maintenance of the child. The court also heard cases in which the woman sued for unpaid maintenance

It was very rare for the name of the child or date of baptism to be given (the child may have been born some time before the presentment) - some women may appear in later years if the affliation became known.

This is a work in progress - more years to be added - 24 years are on CD Rom only