HEBBORN FAMILY HISTORY & NEWS – June 2005
THE WILLIAM WHO MIGHT HAVE CHANGED OUR FAMILY TREE – Joan Williams

In past articles John has referred to Hebborn families that would have had different surnames if Hebborn females had not borne illegitimate children. Tracing the fathers of these children is no easy task. Where do we look for clues? Sometimes the mother would use the father’s surname as a given name at the child’s christening. This sort of entry should not be taken as proof of paternity, only a possibility. More positive evidence can sometimes be found in the records of the Church and civil courts. Churchwardens would not want to fork out for the keep of illegitimate children, and the mother might be persuaded into pursuing the father in the appropriate Church court. Even if a Bastardy Order were made, the record might not have survived. Things become a little easier when affiliation orders could be obtained from the Petty Sessions. These are generally held at County Record Offices.

I had quite a surprise when looking through the transcripts of Bullingdon Petty Sessions held by Oxfordshire R.O. In volume 1 – Bastardy Cases 1841-1857 I came across a very familiar name. It was one of those occasions when you feel like shouting a big Yeah! Of course you don’t for fear of being escorted to the door of this hallowed and silent establishment.

The case that caught my eye was heard on the 7th April 1849, and was brought by Emma Boulter of Cowley against William Hepburn [G002] for an order of affiliation. This was my great great grandfather, the progenitor of many Hebborns living today. I must explain that he was baptised Hepburn but was recorded as Ebborn in the 1851 Census. The child in the case was born at Cowley to Emma Boulter, a single woman on 6th March 1849. Emma won the day and an order was made against William.

So what became of Emma and William?  In the baptism register of Iffley parish, I found the following entry: 7th Oct 1849.  William, illeg son of Emma Boulter and William Ebern, lab. Hockmore Street.

On 2nd February 1852 Emma Boulter, spinster aged 22 years married Charles Baker bachelor aged 24 years at St James Church, Cowley.  Charles Baker’s father was William Baker, born 1803, son of John and Catherine Baker. This William Baker had a sister Mary Baker born 1804, who married Thomas Hebborn [F004].  To put it simply, Emma Boulter’s husband was William Hepburn/Ebern/Ebborn/Hebborns first cousin. With tongue in cheek, I ask, does this make William Hebborn’s illegitimate son his first cousin once removed? Well only by marriage, or rather lack of marriage! What it does suggest is that in small tightly knit communities it was probably difficult to find a spouse who was not related in some degree. Twenty days after Emma married, William Hepburn married Ann Gardiner in the same church.

I traced Charles and Emma’s family in the 1871 Census. Charles is shown as “Paralysed”, his wife as a “Charwoman”. Emma’s illegitimate son by William Hepburn is now 21 years, unmarried, a builder’s labourer. Also in the household were Eliza Baker, 18 years, general servant domestic.  John Baker, 16 years, builder’s labourer. Emily Baker, 13, general servant domestic. Annie Baker, granddaughter aged 2 months.

It would seem that poor paralysed Charles Baker died in 1879. The GRO index of Deaths for September Quarter 1879 shows: Charles Baker age 50 Headington Reg. District volume 3a page 346.  The 1881 Census shows Emma Baker, now 54 years as a widow with three children and a niece Annie Baker aged 10.  This seems to be the same Annie who was a grand daughter in 1871!  I am trying to find an explanation for this. I did discover that two of Emma Boulter’s sisters also had illegitimate children. 

William Boulter/Baker seems to have been known by name Baker. Using this name he married Emma Cross at Cowley in July 1880.  I cannot find them in the 1881 Census, but Emma turns up in Headington in 1891 as a widow aged 41 born at Iffley.  No children are shown on the return. It would seem that William died in his 30’s probably without lawful issue.
 
Now if my great great grandfather had ‘done the decent thing’ and married the girl (Emma), the family that we know would not exist.  Ann/Sarah Ann Gardiner/Gardner would not lay with William Hebborn in Cowley Churchyard.  I wonder why William and Emma did not marry. She was only about 19 when she gave birth to William’s son. Perhaps her parents would not consent to a wedding. Perhaps they thought that he would marry her and then desert her. It
appears that this is what  William’s father did to Emma’s aunt, Mary Hebborn nee Baker.  All conjecture, I know, but when you sit down and review the cold facts from official documents, it is nice to imagine what went on in that mysterious world we call the past.