Know all men by these presents that I, John Iles of Saddlewood in the Parish of Hawkesbury in the County of Gloucestershire, farmer, am held and firmly bound to Thomas Davis and William Powell as Churchwarden and Overseer of the poor of the Parish Of Bibury in the said County of Gloucestershire and their ancestors in the sum of Forty Pounds of lawful money current in Great Britain to be paid to the said Thomas Davis and William Powell or their certain attorney, executors, administrators, ancestors or assigns for which payment to be well and faithfully made.
I bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrators and every of them firmly by these presents sealed with my seal dated the ninth day of March in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine.
Whereas Elizabeth Collett of the Parish of Hawkesbury aforesaid but now residing in the Parish Of Bibury aforesaid, single woman is big and pregnant with a bastard child and declares that the said John Iles is the father of such child which if born in the said Parish of Bibury will become chargeable thereto. And whereas the said Thomas Davis and William Powell as Churchwarden and Overseer as aforesaid having it in contemplation to remove the said Elizabeth Collett from this Parish of Bibury to the said Parish of Hawkesbury the said John Iles hath applied to and requested them to permit the said Elizabeth Collett to remain in the said Parish of Bibury for the conveniency of having her mother with whom she resides to take care of her, to which the said Thomas Davis and William Powell have consented on the said John Iles entering into the above obligation to indemnify the said Parish of Bibury from the burden of the said Bastard Child in manners hereinafter mentioned.
Now the Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bounder John Iles his heirs, executors or administrators do and shall from time to time and at all times hereafter fully and clearly acquit free and discharge or well and sufficiently save defined keep harmless and indemnified the above named Thomas Davis and William Powell Churchwarden and overseer of the poor of the Parish of Bibury aforesaid and their successors for the time being and every of them as also the inhabitants and parishioners of the said Parish of Bibury which now are or hereafter shall be for the time being and every of them of and from all manners of expenses, damages, costs and charges whatever which shall or may at any time thereafter arise, happen, grow or be imposed upon them or any or either of them for or by reason or measure of the said Elizabeth Collett being big with child as aforesaid or for or by reason of the birth, maintenance, education and bringing up of such child or children as she the said Elizabeth Collett now goeth with and shall be delivered of and of said from all other actions, suits, troubles, charges, damages and demands whatsoever breaking or concerning the same then the above written obligation to be void otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue.
John Iles
signed his name in a clear, bold, flowing style,
as did Thomas Davis and
William Powell.