Friday 21st December, 2007
In 1795 Betty Battersby was pregnant and unmarried. She appears to have had no visible means of support. Rather ironically, considering her circumstances, she belonged to a friendly society named "The Virtuous Female Society".
Friendly Societies had been around for some time but most date from the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th. Their function was to act as a benefit club during times of sickness. Many also paid for the funerals of deceased members. I don't know if Betty received any money from "The Virtuous Female Society" but it seems unlikely that a society with such a name would be favourably disposed towards a "fallen woman".
What then were Betty's options towards the end of the 18th century, during the reign of George III?
Before the beginning of the 17th century, provision for the poor was left to individual parishes and the consciences of wealthy local landowners. In 1601 a Poor Law Act required parishes to elect Overseers of the Poor to be responsible to the vestry (the forerunner of the parish council) and Justices of the Peace for monetary distributions to the poor. Funds were raised by the collection of a local rate based on the value of each parishioner's property.
On 31st July 1795, Betty Battersby's appeal for aid was heard by Richard Prescott and Thomas Holme who were Justices of the Peace in Abram.
During her appeal some interesting facts about Betty emerged. She did not seem sure of her age but said,"that she is about 22 years old." And had "...heard and believed she was born in the Township of Pennington." Her appeal was to the Abram Justices of the Peace because she "...has heard and believes the Settlement of her father Samuel Battersby is in the township of Abram...the place of her father's Birth."
Betty's age is confirmed by a baptismal entry in the Leigh Church parish registers which states that Betty Battersby, daughter of Samuel, was christened on 5th June 1773.
Her appeal was successful and she received disbursements of money "...towards her bastardy had by James Young".
Here is the account of Betty's examination:
"1795 Examination of Betty Battersby a member of a certain friendly society called "the virtuous female society" in Bedford in the said county as the place of the last settlement taken before us two of his majesty's Justices of the peace and Quorum in and for the said county upon the oath of the said Betty Battersby this thirty first day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety five. The said Betty Battersby saith that (she) is about twenty two years of age - that as she has heard and believes she was born in the Township of Pennington in the said county but that as she has also heard and believes the Settlement of her father Samuel Battersby is in the township of Abram in the said County the place of her father's Birth. That she has never been in any service, nor farmed anything, or been an apprentice nor done any other Act to her Knowledge whereby to gain Settlement in her own Right.
The mark X of Betty Battersby - Sworn before us Richard Prescott Thomas Holme
A true copy of the original with which this has been examined this thirty first day of July 1795 by us
(illegible signatures)"
On the 20th September, 1795 Betty's daughter, Alice, was baptised at Leigh Church.