Bastardy
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
persons, the state or condition of a bastard. The law presumes - every child legitimate, when born of a woman in a state of wedlock, and casts the onus probands (q. v-) on the party who affirms the bastardy. Stark. Ev. h. t.