ILLEGITIMACY IN NINETEENTH CENTURY RURAL SCOTLAND: A PUZZLE RESOLVED? Available to Purchase

A study utilising personal data contained in census enumerators' returns and records of civil registration for Portpatrick (Wigtownshire) does not produce conclusive evidence for interpreting regional variations in bastardy in terms of illegitimacy subcultures or the nature of farming units. The Portpatrick data suggest that understanding of nineteenth century Scottish illegitimacy will not be resolved until the extent and causes of variations in bastardy from parish to parish within broad regions, and from time period to time period, are better understood.