Jackson County Bastardy Bonds

The General Assembly of North Carolina mandated, early in the life of the state, that a system be devised to protect the counties of the state from being responsible for the support of children born out of wedlock. Thus came into being the "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 brought into court. She was questioned under oath and asked to name the child's father. The alleged father was then also brought into court and required to post bond. If the woman refused to name the father, she, her father, or some other interested party would post the bond. In some cases the mother and the alleged father posted the bond together. If the woman refused to post bond or name the father, she could be sent to jail. These records were extracted from state records by Rick Frizzell.

September, 1853:: "Ordered that the Sherriff bring into this court on tomorrow during court hours an orphan child (illegetamant of Sarah Dills) named Andrew Jackson" Andrew Dills appointed Guardian, Phillip Dills security.
December, 1853:: Re: A.J. Dills: Andrew Dills guardianship voided; Andrew Jackson placed under W. H. Thomas.
March, 1854:: Lucinda Graham vs. Ephriam Henry (Henry plead not guilty; tried; found in favor of defendant.); Cintha Henry vs. Levi McMahan (case dismissed)
March, 1855:: Elizabeth Sutton vs. John R. Dills (defendant confesses)
June, 1855:: Selah Reeves vs. John Barker (defendant confesses); Eliza Frizel vs. John A. Buchanan (defendant confesses); Mary Stiles vs. Manson Quarry (judgment in favor of plaintiff); Melvina Chambers vs. Jesse Jones (guilty)
December, 1855:: Elizabeth Henry vs. Riley McMahan
June, 1856:: Martha Hooper vs. B.N. Queen (defendant confesses)
March, 1857:: Elizabeth Quilliams vs. James Boyd (defendant confesses); Deano Tamosa vs. Minor Linguin (defendant confesses); Mincey Jenkins vs. D.J. Allen (files bond)
June, 1859:: Elvira Gibson vs. Alfred Nations (acknowledged paternity); E.A. Jones vs. David Dills (judgment for plaintiff); Talithea A. Cowan vs. Thomas Brown (guilty); B.M. Hooper vs. Thomas Brown (guilty)
September, 1863:: Mary Wood vs. R.H. Stephens
April, 1866:: Rebecca Mills vs. James Ensley (acknowledges paternity); Martha Crawford vs. A.J. Morrow (acknowledges paternity); Elmina Stiles vs. James Parris (acknowledges paternity); Jane Green vs. W.P. Hyde
December, 1866:: E. Baily vs. Andrew Jones (guilty); Jane Bryson vs. H.A. Boone ("death of defendant suggested")
December, 1867: E. Crawford vs. Elbert Long (guilty)
April, 1868:: Elisabeth Chastain vs. Levi Brown (guilty)
December 23, 1867:: The State and Emaline Dawson vs. Joseph C. Dawson; The State and Mary Thompson vs. John A. Shuler; The State and Elizabeth Martin vs. John Barker; The State and Mary Stiles vs. Hamilton Jones; The State and Nancy Ammons vs. Milas Cody; The State and Elmina Gibson vs. Thomas Ward; The State and Darcus Gunter vs. Rufus Garrett; The State and M.E. Miller vs. Walton Stines
Fall Term, 1869:: The State and Ann Bryson vs. J.R. Brinkley; The State and Mary Stiles vs. Hamilton Jones (bond filed by defendant); The State and Darcus Gunter vs. Rufus Garrett (alias capias to McDowell County); The State and Nancy Ammons vs. Milas Cody (alias capias to Cherokee County); The State and Polly Henry vs. James Crawford
Spring Term, 1870:: The State and Polly Henry vs. James Crawford; The State and Darcus Gunter vs. Rufus Garrett (alias capias to Polk and McDowell)
Fall Term, 1870:: The State and Polly Henry vs. James Crawford (defendant guilty); The State and Darcus Gunter vs. Rufus Garrett (alias capias)
Spring Term, 1872:: The State and Emmaline Shelton vs. William Brackens
Spring Term, 1874:: The State and Roxanne Woodring vs. E.C. Green; The State vs. Thomas Dills
Fall Term, 1875: The State vs. Thomas Dills: The State and Roxanne Woodring vs. E.C. Green
Spring Term, 1876:: The State and Martha Turpin vs. Thos. Dills; The State and Kate Celley(?) vs. Jesse Jones; The State and Charity Higdon vs. Thos. W. Dills; The State and Arta Moffitt vs. N.J. Hooper; The State and Jane Brown vs. Luther Farley; The State vs. Wm. Thomas Mills
Fall Term, 1877:: The State and Arty Moffitt vs. N.J. Hooper; The State and Jane Brown vs. Luther Farley
Spring Term, 1878:: The State vs. N.J. Hooper; The State and Rebecca Norman vs. William Laney; The State and Jane Jones vs. William Wiles; The State and Lizzie Brown vs. Boon Chastain; The State and Emaline Cope vs. William Jones
Spring Term, 1879:: The State and Jane Jones vs. William Wiles; The State and Lizzie Brown vs. Boon Chastain; The State and Emiline Cope vs. William Jones; The State and M.O. Buchanan vs. James Pruett

It appears that some of these cases were continued across multiple court terms. The General Assembly later repealed the legislation requiring that Bastardy Bonds be filed.