Bastardy in the Colonies

James Riley

May 5, 2011

On January 25, 1770, Matthew Patten, a justice of the peace in Bedford, New Hampshire, recorded the following entry in his day book:

“..I went to Mary Riddells in the evening to talk with her about takeing (sic) her examination of Bastardy but
did not do it..”
bastardy

Over several decades as justice of the peace, Matthew Patten would be involved in the examination of six bastardy cases. His commentary

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About James Riley

James Riley is the owner/operator of Riley's Farm in Oak Glen, California and a senior partner in Colony Bay Productions. The father of six children, Riley performs "Patrick Henry" and supervises a living history program visited by hundreds of thousands of school children. He holds a degree in history from Stanford University.
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