Whereas it has appeared unto us the said Justices, as well upon the complaint of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of the said Parish of Cotton, as upon the Oath of the said Sarah Armwell that she, the said Sarah Armwell, on the twenty fourth Day of March now last past, was delivered of a male Bastard Child in the said Parish of Cotton in the said County, and that the said male Bastard Child is likely to become chargeable to the said Parish of Cotton and further, that John BARNES of the Parish of Wattisfield in the said County of Suffolk, Labourer; did beget the said Bastard Child on the Body of her, the said Sarah Armwell.

And whereas the said John Barnes hath this day voluntarily appeared before us the said Justices, but hath not shewed any sufficient Cause why he the said John Barnes shall not be the reputed Father of the said male Bastard Child.

We therefore upon examination of the cause and circumstances of the premises, as well upon the oath of the said Sarah Armwell as otherwise, do hereby adjudge him, the said John Barnes, to be the reputed Father of the said Bastard Child. And do also adjudge that the said male Bastard Child was born in the Parish of Cotton.

And thereupon we do Order, as well for the better Relief of the said Parish of Cotton, as for the sustentation and Relief of the said Bastard Child, that the said John Barnes shall and do forthwith upon Notice of this our Order, pay or cause to be paid, to the said Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Cotton, or to some or one of them, the Sum of Forty Shillings for and towards the lying in of the said Sarah Armwell and the maintenance of the said Bastard Child, to the time of making this our Order.

And also the sum of eight shillings for the reasonable Costs of apprehending and securing the said John Barns and for the payment of the Costs of this our Order of filiation.

And we also hereby further order, that the said John Barns shall likewise pay, or cause to be paid, to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Cotton for the time being, or to some of one of them, the sum of one shilling & nine pence weekly and every week, from the present time, for and towards the Keeping, Sustentation, and Maintenance of the said Bastard Child, for and during so long time as the said Bastard Child shall be chargeable to the said Parish of Cotton.

And we do further Order that the said Sarah Armwell shall also pay or cause to be paid to the said Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Cotton for the time being, or to some or one of them, the Sum of Sixpence weekly and every week, so long as the said Bastard Child shall be chargeable to the said Parish of Cotton in case she shall not nurse and take care of the said Child herself. Given under our Hands and Seals the Day and Year first above written.