Poor Relief Act 1662

XIX. Churchwardens, &c. may seize Goods and Chattels of putative Fathers and of Mothers deserting, to support Bastard Child.

And whereas the putative Fathers and lewd Mothers of Bastard Children run away out of the Parish and sometimes out of the County and leave the said Bastard Children upon the charge of the Parish where they are borne although such putative Father and Mother have Estates sufficient to discharge such Parish Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That it shall and may be lawfull for the Church wardens and Overseers for the Poore of such Parish where any Bastard Child shall be borne to take and seize so much of the Goods and Chattels and to receive so much of the annual rents or proffits of the Lands of such putative Father or lewd Mother as shall be ordered by any Two Justices of Peace as aforesaid for or towards the Discharge of the Parish to be confirmed att the Sessions for the bringing up and providing for such Bastard Child And thereupon it shall be lawfull for the Sessions to make an Order for the Church wardens or Overseers for the Poore of such Parish to dispose of the Goods by Sale or otherwise or so much of them for the purposes aforesaid as the Court shall thinke fitt and to receive the rents and proffitts or so much of them as shall be ordered by the Sessions as aforesaid of his or her Lands